Alright, what is SOS Web.AR?
You may have noticed that over the last few months we’ve been showcasing this technology called Augmented Reality. You’ve likely seen us having fun with it on social media and in our monthly e-newsletter; but now we’d like to share the details behind it. Namely, how we got into AR, why we think it’s so important, how we’ve learned to democratize AR, and how we’ve been implementing it.
What comes to mind when you hear the words, “Augmented Reality”? For most of you it’s Snapchat or Pokemon Go or something similar. If those are the only examples/uses you are aware of, we would love for you to keep reading. Guaranteed, by the end of this post, your mind will be buzzing and thinking of all the potential uses for AR - from enhancing your family Christmas card or being able to see what a new couch might look like in your home, to touring San Francisco remotely and having a blast in an AR photo booth.
““Simply put, AR is a digital creation that is overlaid onto our real world using a mobile device.””
Before we get into examples of Augmented Reality, let us first answer a question that has likely crossed your mind - why is SOS now providing it? Well, a little over a year ago, we asked ourselves how we could further increase the branding capabilities on our tabletop, mobile device chargers. We found a web based solution, did some trials and testing, and by the end of 2019 we knew that we needed to implement this dynamic technology. Our intuition told us that Web Based Augmented Reality was the ticket to levelling up both the branding and value we were bringing to live events. We saw it as a way to boost engagement during the event and also a way for attendees to take something away, pre or post-event. Once our creative juices started flowing we had so many ideas on how AR could be implemented, and now we just needed to figure it all out.
Fast forward to 2020. Due to the pandemic, we have been able to dive deep into the intricacies of producing Augmented Reality. When live events came to a halt, we immediately got to work on learning the ins and outs of this powerful technology. We started by learning the platform and programming side, moved to R&D, next came more R&D, a few more rounds of R&D, and then of course producing activations! Through this entire process we discovered that we are not limited to events - SOS AR is able to expand into so many other areas such as marketing, education, entertainment, etc.
So there you have it, now you know how and why we got into AR.
““SOS is committed to making AR simple for you and the end user.””
Next up, let’s talk about how SOS makes AR simple for you, the average Joe/Josephine. Because, after all, one of our core values is simplicity.
The first thing that we wanted to do was remove the word ‘complicated’ from the AR equation. During our R&D and while hosting focus groups, ‘complicated’ was commonly mentioned. Not around what we were doing, but around AR in general. It’s one of the reasons why you don’t see AR being used as often as it could be - even though it’s been around for quite a while. AR is cool, but many people are deterred from getting into it due to a few key factors: 1. you need an app, 2. there’s a lot involved with programming, 3. there’s an amount of upkeep to keep it current, and 4. when you add all of this together it is very costly.
Currently, the most common use of AR is via face filters on social media - where, for example, some cartoon dog features are superimposed on your face for the “ultimutt” selfie. The puppy dog filters are super fun, however, they require the actual app to use. Being event professionals, we knew we couldn’t ask sponsors to pay for an app build out, then ask attendees to download said app. So we utilize a platform that allows the AR to be web based.
Enter SOS Web.AR - simple, affordable, web-based augmented reality activations that can be easily deployed and adopted. No app required. Just your phone’s camera and it’s web browser. It opens up a world of content possibilities layered over the world around us. Instead of always looking down at your phone, it lifts your eyes up and helps you explore the world with a different lens.
We’re now on our way to making AR simple! So let’s take a look at what you can do with Augmented Reality.
HOW ARE WE LEVELING UP QR CODES?
The pandemic has helped QR codes make a comeback. Arguably, 2020’s biggest come back kid has been the QR code. Due to Covid, if we want to order some food we have to scan them. We can help by turning the QR code into a marketing play -- additional opportunities to share campaigns, trackable data, longer dwell time, calls to action – which can result in additional revenue, all because of integrating AR into a quick QR code scan.
Imagine: Using your camera to scan a QR code, but instead of a single webpage, the view of your camera shows faded dream-like bubbles floating freely around your screen. Some semi-transparent, some larger, circling calmly with an image inside and perhaps some text below describing a clickable link. These all slowly circle around a central bubble showcasing the restaurant’s brand. Clicking on the food menu, the beverage menu, a PDF of their covid safety guide, and even a survey link, a video of the mixologist putting together the day’s special, allowing patrons to answer a satisfaction survey and provide personal information to enter a draw, consent to further marketing and help the restaurant grow.
HOW DO WE MAKE IMAGES COME TO LIFE?
Print is not dead! Not when you incorporate AR into it, that is. With the use of image tracking, we can help bring an image to life - making your print marketing content far more effective and giving it an extra set of legs.
Imagine walking by a building and seeing a giant mural on the wall. It’s Modelo beer and they’re advertising the, “Day of the Dead” celebration. La Catrina is centred in the mural surrounded by flowers. You hold your phone up to the mural and she comes alive. She grabs a Modelo beer and tips it forward to cheers you as the flowers cheerfully dance in celebration, and the mariachi band begins to play to really set the mood.
HOW CAN WE ENHANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING?
Imagine: your kids bring home a colouring book about the universe. To compliment their education, as they explore they scan pictures. A planet comes alive on the screen, they learn new facts that are animated into the brief AR experience. Studies have shown that AR increases retention and now when they return to the page, they are more equipped to answer questions and communicate about what they just learned.
HOW DO WE HELP GIVE THAT EXTRA PUSH?
Imagine: You are one of the top contenders for the “President’s Club” sales incentive trip. Corporate has been teasing the location for a few weeks and now they are ready to reveal the location. There’s a tent card set up on your desk when you arrive to work for the day. You scan a custom QR code, the company logo appears...and a door! The door swings open. You can see sand and some ocean but can’t make out the location right away. Within seconds, you are whisked through the door into a fully immersive, 360º panoramic view of a tropical island. Moving your phone up, you see a beautiful blue sky. Panning your phone down, sky meets the horizon, where a golden sun reflects flawlessly off the calm pacific ocean. Scanning right palm trees, white sand beach and the Grand Wailea Maui Resort. You click the Welcome sign and are zoomed into another 360º photosphere where you land in the lobby of the hotel. There are additional hotspots to interact with - check out your room, the pool, the spa, or the lounge… all of which zoom you in and out of immersive 360º environments painting a vivid picture of what you’re to look forward to. This motivates you because you can see yourself there! You keep the tent card at your desk to revisit Maui whenever you need that extra push.
Alright, we know…this is a lot of content and inspo to digest. We can clearly go on and on with examples. Augmented Reality is fun yes, but how do you know if it is a good fit for your project?
To start, consider these statistics:
2x more engaging vs TV
70% higher retention rate
1/3 of consumers agree that AR add to their experience
3.5B smartphones to connect with via Web.AR
Follow this up by asking yourself a handful of starter questions:
What is the goal/objective of your AR experience?
What is the context of your activation?
How will the success of the project be measured?
What are the timelines?
And then, contact us. We’ll take you through a few more questions to get a better scope, and then work with you to put together an amazing AR experience.
SOS Web.AR is simple, affordable, and easy to adopt. We can tell you if AR is the right tool to accomplish your goals.