Augmented Reality–Advertising’s Next Big Thing
Imagine this scenario…you are walking down the street on a business trip. You don’t know where to eat for lunch. Not to worry–you just pull out your cell phone, turn on the video function, and point it at the restaurants on the street around you. Up pops restaurant reviews, menus and health department ratings, directly over the image of the restaurant you’re filming. So now, you instantly know where to eat, what sounds good on the menu, and you’ve got an online coupon, too. Welcome to the world of augmented realityLayar Demo…which could be a potential wonderland for advertisers.
Not everyone agrees with my rosy assessment, as is laid out in this article by Fast Company. But just like any other tool, it is only as good as the applications that are created for it. Swedish company Layar has jumped to the head of the pack by creating an easy to use platform for companies to jump into. I can think of a thousand great applications for this technology. WalMart, for instance created an app that allows teens to overlay pieces of their teen furniture line over their existing rooms, for instance, so they can get a sense of how they will look in their houses. What if a kitchen cabinet manufacturer created an app that would overlay a cabinet combination into your space? What if a small boutique could send a digital coupon to that person standing, looking in their window, wondering if they can afford to shop there? What if the new coffee shop could offer you a free cookie and look at their menu through layar? These applications are not going to be fads. As technology continues to improve, they will be expected ways of reaching out to customers. My guess is that as this platform develops, it will be an inexpensive way for even mom and pop operators to market themselves to the people who pass them by every day. It won’t replace other platforms. It will be an exciting new addition. Welcome to the future. For it is here!
