Pardon me while I geek out but Augmented Reality (AR) is cool…I mean really cool. I’m huge fan of exploring new restaurants, new cities and generally finding some kind of trouble to get into. With the aid of AR, geeks like me can strike out with their smartphones and explore to their heart’s content.
One AR app I’ve recently fallen for big time is AroundMe. This app pulls the names of bars, gas stations, stores and even libraries that are closest to you. Simply put, if you’re looking for a nearby gas station, you click on the app and select “gas station” and it will create a list of stations in your area and distance to them. I could go into a convoluted explanation on how to use it from there, but I’d rather just double dog dare you to pull out your phone and check it out your own self.
Another killer AR app that I discovered on a recent trip to Vegas, and which works on about the same premise as AroundMe, is called Vegas Reality. Developed by Resort Technology Partners for MGM Mirage, this is but one of five apps available through iTunes that were designed to enhance the Vegas experience. The VegasReality app has facts, photos, pointers, specials and other interesting things to explore, all specific to Vegas. In addition, it links to hotels and restaurants so that you can explore amenities, make reservations and even book tickets to shows. Frankly, it’s amazing that it can’t actually do your gambling for you! Here’s a peek….
Augmented reality is kind of mind-blowing and I’m the first to admit that. But, finding the connection point where you drive customers and add value to their experiences oh, and drive sales as a result, is really what matters. VegasReality is a great example of this, because it’s not only like an instant guidebook in your phone, it also offers consumers access to special promotions, offers and the like – things you might not otherwise find.
We’re still at the early stages of app mania and it will be interesting to see what develops as technology improves and as marketers get more savvy about integrating augmented reality and other app experiences into the marketing plans they develop for clients. I know that at V3 we paying lots of attention to this realm – what about you? Would love to hear about your favorite AR apps – who knows where I’ll be headed next.
