This post was last updated on Sep 25th, 2021
The remarkable feature of Augmented Reality(AR) combines the virtual world and the digital world in a variety of ways. The two most popular ways are marker-based AR and markerless AR. The AR applications in the early days of their evolution were mostly marker based. With the onset of markerless AR, it enjoys to be the new favourite of brands and developers alike because of a variety of reasons.
AR is moving to a brand new era. The number of users with mobile phones are increasing and these phones have advanced technologies like better processors, higher screen resolution, empowered with features like accelerometers, GPS and digital compasses.
Improving the user experience with respect to a brand is only possible when a holistic picture lives in the mind of the customer. When a user uses a mobile app and interacts with a brand, the user creates a perception of the brand. AR can help influence this perception in many unprecedented and positive ways.
Several questions might arise about making AR an integral part of the marketing strategy of a brand. We need to understand how we can overlay the digital content onto real-world objects. For instance, where do we overlay the digital content within the live camera view, or where do we precisely place the content?
With various available types of AR such as marker-based AR, markerless AR, and more, we are here to help you achieve your marketing goals with the help of a full-fledged platform called Marvin XR.
What is Surface Web AR?
When Ikea places a piece of furniture or when you play Pokemon Go to put a pokemon in the live camera view of your device, then we can see the wonders of markerless AR. The impeccable markerless AR enables the digital transformation via scanning the scenario or environment without the necessity of a trigger picture to load the AR content. Thus, we can try various combinations of objects and styles, and locations.
Markerless AR utilizes a concept called SLAM – simultaneous location and mapping which helps to place the AR overlay wherever we want as long as the surface is a flat surface. Hence, we would need our camera to be able to recognize the flat surface. Thus, for computer vision to help identify the flat surface better, it should have a bit of texture. Hence, we cannot usually use markerless AR on monochromatic surfaces.
Marvin XR allows you to create a rich AR experience using the markerless technology. It allows you to upload the 3D overlay object helping you to generate the link to the experience or the QR code which can be scanned using the camera.
Surface AR Show: Scan the QR code with your mobile or tablet and place the 3D in your surrounding.
Note: Google ARCore is supported in most latest models of mobiles. You can see if Google Play Services for AR is installed in your phone. Here's a list of compatible mobiles.
What is Image-based Web AR?
When an image is found by web app camera, AR content(s) appear on top of it, or near it. The content can be a 3D model (static/animated), video, image gallery or even interactive buttons. If you are looking for a customized image based AR web app, our team can help you to achieve it.
The engagement and entertainment rate is very high for image-based Augmented Reality. Image-based AR experience is tied to your custom image. This means that you can use the image in real world (banner, ad, leaflet, magazine) or digital world (ads in Facebook, Twitter, linkedIn, Instagram, Tiktok or anywhere). In most cases, the experience will display on top of the image and move along with the image as it is turned or rotated.
Cases of use: Product marketing, gamification experience, entertainment, augmented Art, learning (books or magazines), flyers, advertising etc. to bring the best AR experience for users. Imagination is the limit for image AR.
AR Show: Scan the QR code and focus your mobile or tablet's camera to the image on the right. AR show will start immedately in your mobile/tablet.
Note: You sell your products online - no problem! Your hundreds of online product images can come alive and tell stories before the online visitors with image based AR.
What is Marker-based Web AR?
When we see the 3D model tied to a real-world object, you can rightly guess that marker-based AR is in play at that instance. When you scan a static image on a newspaper, and the AR application overlays a digital object tied to the static image, then again, marker-based AR is in action. The scanner recognizes the static image almost instantly and displays the virtual object at a suitable location in the live camera view.
The motionless picture or design of an object which helps the device recognize which real-world object to tie the AR content to is popularly known as a trigger image or a marker. An AR application needs to scan the trigger images via a tablet or smartphone to avail of the AR effect. The marker should have a lot of unique visual points and can be a bar code, a poster etc. Marker images can either be black & white to keep it distinct from the surroundings or colored depending on the use case.
The scan will display digital information such as video, animations, 3D objects, and more. Launching a WebAR marker-based application can be done with Marvin XR in a hassle free manner. Marvin XR allows you to upload any 3D objects & animations or 2D images, which will help create the AR effect and further upload the static image to the platform which can be used as a marker.
AR Show: Scan the QR code and focus your mobile or tablet's camera to the b&w AR marker. AR show will start immedately in your mobile/tablet.
Note: The benefit of AR.js based AR is that it is supported in wide variety of mobiles - including all types of brands and smartphone variations. Technically this supports 2.9 billion devices worldwide. This easily runs in older smartphones too which is a great way to reach mass users during product campaigns.