Your XR idea #8

Why AR Anchors Will Change the Standard Map Soon

Augmented reality maps continue to scale. Users can now share their experiences in different locations by using cloud anchors.

Nov. 10, 2020
Read time 5 min

In 2018 Google has announced some big updates to ARCore


They gained Cloud Anchors to make virtual layers on top of the real world.
Using Cloud Anchors, your app allows users to add virtual objects, messages, feedbacks, etc. to an AR scene.
Anchors are hosted in the cloud, so multiple people can use them to share the real world.
Permanent links to the cloud connect real-world locations with digital Augmented Reality content that anyone can access from compatible mobile devices. This AR experience can be shared by several people at once and returned to it again and again, even after weeks or months.
how cloud anchors work
Google is now introducing persistent cloud anchors that "last for an extended period of time" and are not removed after the app is finished. They are tied to a specific latitude and longitude, and the developers currently maintain their own database of anchors and locations in the cloud. This "save button for AR" ensures that "digital information overlaid on top of the real world can be seen at any time."

One of the first cool implementations of this technology was Mark AR

MARK AR - is a social platform that lets people leave AR messages in real-world locations for friends, family, and their community to discover.
After the first user has left their content, it is available for detection by all other users of this application.
application starts the camera, user find AR mark
After the application starts the camera, users should only track where the messages are located.
As you can see, in addition to images, anchors can also contain text messages. In fact that they are tied to location coordinates, this is a great way to leave your message or review about a place or institution. Something like Google reviews is only much more interactive and realistic.

All of this functionality has become widely available for Android, iOS, and Unity mobile developers with ARCore version 1.20 and higher. Ofc, We could not deny ourselves the desire to test with our own examples.

On the example of our work, you will see the prospects for the development of this solution in tourism. After all, we often search for information about cities and places on the internet. What to visit? Where to go? What to try? Where to dine? What kind of place is it? etc

In the long term, your phone can easily become a personal guide to an unfamiliar place.
Of course, we cannot say that a solution will change everything overnight. Also, it is necessary to mention the problems with the speed and interaction and information exchange.

The user still has to download applications and interact only with them. However, more and more countries are increasingly implementing 5G. It is a way that will allow you to work more actively with data and content. You no longer need to cache information in separate applications, everything will be loaded in a matter of seconds directly from the cloud storage. Until a few years ago, VR and AR existed only in applications. But, now we are actively developing WebXR, WebAR, etc.

Despite these obstacles, a very exciting future awaits us. All scientific and technological discoveries that perfectly synergize with Google's plans speak about this:

Combining Global Localization with Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence

Earth Cloud Anchors. Usually, the anchor that is located in the world, it is sometimes difficult to find it. For example, in a city, they need to follow GPS directions to an anchor (about one block of the city) and then use "clues" such as images or video scenes to find the anchor.

The development and integration of Google Lens and Street View are other points of the company's work on improving modern location systems or GPS maps. Interaction of an Artificial Intelligence with a turned on camera, which recognizes everything that it sees and gives a display of the attached context to each area. Isn't it great?

Ideally, the content should be relevant to the current time. For example, flora cannot remain green in Street View during the winter months. To get a "true" match, it needs to filter out the temporal parts of the scene and focus on a constant structure that doesn't change over time. That's why a key component of this new approach is the integration of AI and Machine Learning into an automated solution.

It is necessary to make this technology work everywhere and in any conditions - think late at night, in a blizzard, or during heavy rainfall.

Obviously, Google wants Travel and Maps to be the place where you plan your trips from start to finish and is adding features to help travelers plan trips.
Google Live View in Paris
A big part of customers still has concerns remain about the profit and quality of these types of communications between their business and clients or employees.

50% of the users
have troubles with the understanding of AR experience or need better content quality.

Troubles with adoption of AR

Conclusion

In fact, Google is a huge ecosystem that wants to retain its users as much as possible in its solutions and products. So that in one place the user can compose his route for travel, mark places where you can have a snack or a drink, spend the night, etc. Moreover, and there are no difficulties in communication (thanks to the AR Google Translator) or making a route. Much like a great service like Foursquare or TripAdvisor, but two-in-one with tons of booking, shopping and Augmented Reality features. Perhaps, Google's interface, solutions, and design that are familiar to millions of users around the world that will help fix these barriers and show all the advantages of the modern future with a huge data and information transfer rate on a convenient device.

It will be some time before new sustainable Augmented Reality capabilities emerge. However, even on the intermediate results, one can see the huge potential of future technologies where AR for Maps or AR Anchors or AR Navi will be quite commonplace. Especially when 5G technologies and AR glasses will be available across the continent - at a cost like a regular smartphone.

Further materials

YOUR XR IDEA #6
If you analyze augmented reality into subcategories and sectors, each of them will show rapid growth. Technology is only at the stage of its development and has enormous potential.
Your XR idea #4
Buying several headsets and written software will maximize the benefits. Use both a training simulator and a virtual tour presentation. Demonstrate the best qualities of your product to the buyer on what plantations and how it was grown or produced.
Your XR idea #1
VR solutions simplify communications when it is about special products and things. A count of business areas for these solutions is not limited. It is more important to understand that using this instrument even wrenches can be sold in a new way.
Written by Vladimir Fedorenko
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