Augmented Reality,
a brief overview

Picture of Luís Filipe

Luís Filipe

Managing Partner YouX

What is Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality is an experience that uses a camera to change or improve the way the user sees the real world. Through a native or web app, virtual elements are superimposed (such as images, videos, sound, documents, 3D elements) to which attributes such as geolocation can be attributed to the real context where the user is.

More than 1000 Million users

Augmented, Mixed and Virtual Realities are identified as the emerging technologies that will grow the most in the coming years.

Technology is accessible

smartphone users that support augmented reality in the world

Access to Augmented Reality (generally abbreviated as AR, which results from the English name Augment Reality) is mainly done through smartphones, tablets, proprietary applications or Snapchat.

Share of VR/AR users by type of access device in the US | 2018

Some important milestones in the adoption and growth of Augmented Reality

POKÉMON GO was the main driver of this process, as shown by some of the numbers it achieved:

500 Million downloads in the first two months
Revenues of 470 Million USD in 82 days.

Pokémon GO is an augmented reality game released in July 2016 for IOS and Android. This game used the GPS and camera of smartphones to allow players to interact with virtual creatures – the Pokémon – that appeared on the devices as if they were in the real world.

What makes Augmented Reality grow

the pioneers

The SDKs

(software development platforms) of the main technology companies have massively adopted this technology.

Some data;

In 2019, the Apple Store had more than 2000 AR applications and Google Play had more than 200.
In January 2019, 95% of iPhone users owned an AR-compatible device.
Google's ARCode platform is compatible with more than 50 Android and IOS devices.

Main Concepts of Augmented Reality

CAMERA ORIENTATION BACK

Back-facing Camera Orientation

Augmented Reality Experience in which the camera is moved away from the user to show and manipulate the environment that surrounds them; that is, an AR that, based on the environment where the user is located, adds elements, such as objects to surfaces, etc.

FRONT CAMERA ORIENTATION

Front-facing Camera Orientation

AR experience in which the camera is oriented towards the user's face and some element related to the face is changed; such as selfies, face filters, etc.

“GLASSES” (HMD)

Head-mounted Display

A device with translucent glasses or goggles that attaches to the user's head allowing them to view virtual images that are projected onto the real world. Cases of Google Glass, Spectacles by Snap, among others.

MIXED REALITY

Mixed Reality

It is a mix of elements of virtual and augmented reality. It encompasses VR and AR within a broader spectrum called the "Reality-Virtuality Continuum", and attempts to combine elements of the real and virtual worlds into environments where physical and digital objects can live together and interact in real time.

WebAR

WebAR

Augmented reality experiences that the user can load directly from the web through a browser. With this solution, the intermediate step of having to install an app is avoided.

Technologies that enable Augmented Reality

BOOKMARKS

Markers

A type of Augmented Reality experience that uses a specific marker in the real world, such as a QR code, image, pattern, or predetermined physical object that the camera recognizes using image recognition software to initiate an AR experience.

NO MARKER

Markerless

Mark-free AR technology used to recognize patterns or features in an environment not previously provided to the application. An example is a consumer scanning a real-world environment, such as a table or a room in their home, using their smartphone's camera and placing a virtual product there to see what it would look like.

ARKit

ARKit

Apple's platform for developing Augmented Reality for iOS devices. Launched in 2017, this platform aims to facilitate the development of augmented reality experiences by enabling access to smartphone or iPhone motion tracking data, camera scene capture, and advanced scene processing and display conveniences.

ARCore

ARCore

Google platform for developing Augmented Reality for Android and IOS devices. It was launched in 2018 and uses movement tracking, environmental perception and light estimation as its main technologies. It allows AR developers to capture the environment and place objects and information in it.

Curious about Augmented Reality?

Download our AR You-X and test our sample markers .

YouX is a software development company focused on providing the best user experiences.

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Info@you-x .eu – Telefone: +351 211 353 284

RESEARCH | IDEATION

Digital Strategy

UX Design

UI Design

Digital Sprints

User Research

EXECUTION

AR applications

WebAR

UX Audits

Software development

Mobile Applications

Web Apps

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© 2021-25 Xperialab Lda ® Todos os direitos reservados.

YouX is a software development company focused on providing the best user experiences.

RESEARCH
/IDEATION

Digital Strategy

UX Design

UI Design

Digital Sprints

User Research

EXECUTION

AR applications

Web AR

Software development

Mobile Applications / Web Apps

Websites

MEMBER

Sede: Av. da Peregrinação, 9, 1 dto
1990-425 Lisboa
Info@you-x .eu – Telefone: +351 211 353 284

© 2021/5 Xperialab Lda ®
Todos os direitos reservados.