In the augmented-reality world it's not unusual to hear experts suggesting to museum curators or exhibit designers that AR on handheld devices like smartphones and tablets is easier for people to use and for companies to launch.
How many times have we heard things like: “AR for smart glasses is a bit of an overshoot now — it's better to just have AR on phones or tablets.”? Too many.
The general (outdated) argument against AR smart glasses is that they are still out of reach in terms of technological requirements and cost. Another one is that users are familiar with handheld devices, so they make for a better experience.
This may have been the case few years ago, but not any longer. That's because now AR on handheld devices has become fairly widespread and common and is actually not all that exciting -- while AR on smart glasses is increasingly becoming accessible, and far more powerful than it was just a couple of years ago. It's a totally different, and more superior, experience.
Here at Emozionella, we've put together six benefits AR smart glasses offer and that you could never expect from handheld AR devices, especially for exhibitions and museum tours.
1
Freehand Experience
A mobile AR device requires that the user hold the device at all times during the AR session. This makes it impossible to be fully immersed in the AR experience -- you're always treading on the edge of actual and artificial reality, so you can't entirely enjoy the latter.
Smart glasses, on the other hand, allow for a hands-free experience. Users can immerse themselves naturally and intuitively in their surrounds without any limitations.
2
Better Engagement with the AR Environment
There's little difference between the AR experience on a handheld device and that of watching a video. In both cases, the participant focuses and gets the experience by looking at a screen.
The main problem with this is that users always have to look at their screen and also their surroundings -- preventing the full AR experience. The fun is further dampened by the fact that your interaction with others around you is limited. Only AR smart glasses allows for all of this, and it makes AR exploration natural and almost as real as life itself.
3
An All-Immersive 3D Experience
One way our brain understands the existence of objects is their visual 3D perception. This is completely missing from AR on smartphones or tablets. AR glasses can deliver the 3D experience beautifully, adding a true sense of reality to digital content added to the environment.
This creates the wow-effect everyone hopes to find in AR-based exhibitions. It's also useful where high levels of accuracy is important, especially in museums and product presentations.
4
Allowing Natural Mobility
Real interaction with the surrounding requires movement. Physical actions such as walking around, visiting different places and even changing perspectives are the three abilities that every AR should support. However, such natural movement capability is not available on handheld devices. A person has to glance continuously at the phone or tablet. This is not only dangerous but also causes physical strain on the neck muscles. The feeling itself makes some people nauseated.
AR on smart glasses takes away these limitations allowing natural movement around the surrounding environment.
5
Improving Brand Value
One of the arguments that experts throw around in support for AR on mobile devices is that users can use their gadgets to start exploring the AR experience. If you are having an exhibition, asking the user to use their devices is the last thing you wish to do. It might create significant friction to the experience and you will have missed an opportunity to sell your brand or promote your product in the right way.
During the exhibition, only the high emotional impact of AR smart glasses can boost the perception of your brand value.
6
Affordability and Accessibility
AR glasses used to be costly as only a few companies produced them. The devices in the market at that time were mainly used in limited spheres, mostly for industrial purposes. That was less than half a decade ago.
Most AR smart glasses today are designed for several uses. Some AR smart glass systems even utilize smartphone computing capabilities for powering.
In terms of availability, AR smart glasses are currently produced by several brands. Consequently, the price of acquiring this system has drastically reduced to as low as a few hundreds of euros. Moreover, some companies provide them as service, which has drastically reduced the upfront cost impact.
Wrapping it up
Cost and availability are no longer viable arguments against AR smart glasses, just as user-friendliness is not a defense for mobile devices. A genuinely immersive augmented reality experience is only possible when it is undertaken freehandedly with wearable AR.
Contact us at Emozionella, for additional details, support, and to get your own smart glasses.
Connected links to the topic:
Emozionella Augmented Reality
Emozionella Startegy
