July 13, 2009 | 4 Comments

5 more ways Augmented Reality will change the marketing landscape

My recent post on what Augmented Reality means for marketers has been by far my most popular post to date.

It is clear that there is a lack of sites bringing all these case studies into one place, so here are five more examples I have found of what is here now in this space, and what is to come.

1. Providing a seamless link between offline and online communications

Nokia Point and Find technology lets you create experiences that link digital content and services to physical objects and traditional media.

This is a primitive version of Augmented Reality as it involves taking a photo rather than using real time video, but nonetheless it means that just by taking a photo of a movie poster, you can then watch the trailer, read reviews, find a cinema nearby, and book tickets.

From an integrated marketer’s point of view this is pretty damn cool, and unlike some of the other apps I have highlighted, it is available now.

2. Providing your customers an easy way to find your nearest shop front

This iPhone App from Acrossair helps you find the nearest New York Subway station using the phones video function. In the near future I can see this sort of application being used to find a brand’s nearest shop front or ATM.

3. Changing the way people browse a city for things to do

Lastminute.com have launched NRU (Near You) which is an Android application that helps people find great deals and things to do that are close to where they are standing.

Again I think the Augmented Reality technology is slightly less developed as it uses the internal compass instead of streaming video, but nonetheless it would be pretty useful on a night out in Sydney.

4. Help people turn data into useful information

The night sky is nothing but a series of data points (stars and planets). It is not until you can start mapping it and determining specific planets and constellations that it becomes useful information.

Google have launched SkyMap for Android phones that achieves exactly this objective by overlaying mapping visuals wherever the camera is pointed in the sky.

5. Share your ID with the world

Frankly this last one scares me a little.

TAT have developed an Augmented Reality ID application that using facial recognition allows you to share your various profiles such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Slideshare to interested parties who point their camera phone at you.

Having recently done the speaking circuit for ADMA, this surely would have saved me a slide that gave attendees my contact details. They could have just held their phones up.