Augmented Reality (AR) is changing the way businesses work, as it is easily accessible on every smart device. There has never been a bigger need for AR app development services than there is right now with numerous industries including retail, automotive, healthcare and education seeking the opportunity to implement AR. The AR solutions market is expected to reach $71 billion by 2025.

What Is Augmented Reality?

AR is a link between virtual data and the physical world in real-time. AR technology is widely accessible, all you need is a smartphone with a camera to experience it. IKEA Place and Sephora are two of the leading brands when it comes to AR implementation for customers. Virtual reality is frequently confused with Augmented reality.

They may have a similar concept but are fundamentally different. AR solutions project 2D or 3D things into real-life situations. On the other hand, Virtual Reality immerses the users in a virtual environment with the help of VR headsets or glasses. 

Types of AR Apps

The majority of AR-based apps exhibit several distinct features in their core functions. As a result, some solutions concentrate on identifying graphic markers (such as QR codes or intricate graphs), some process GPS data and some may mix both the aspects. Full-body motion tracking AR/VR solutions are an emerging technology for people in the sectors who need believable real-world interactions inside their virtual world surroundings. Some types of AR apps are: 

• Marker-based apps

These apps use black-and-white markers and image recognition technologies to show AR content over the user’s actual surroundings.

• Apps that focus on GPS data

These apps function without the use of markers and employ a digital compass, accelerometer or GPS to determine the user’s position and location. They have added capabilities that enable them to notify the user when an updated AR content becomes available based on their location.

• Gyroscope-based apps

Electronic devices use the Micro-Electro-Mechanical System that is built into the integrated circuit. Gyroscopes are used for rotational tracking in AR. 

• Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS)

This app uses technologies including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ultra-Wideband UWB and other Radio-Frequency Identification to track the location of the user. These platforms are utilized for a variety of applications including fleet traction, navigation, asset and inventory tracking, employee tracking and network security. 

• SLAM apps

These apps use the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) principle which is based on simultaneously gathering data from many sensors (for instance, from GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, etc.). They draw up 3D objects on the background of real objects like the gyroscope-based apps but without the markers.

Choosing the Right Platform for Mobile AR Development?

It can be tricky to decide on the right platform while creating AR applications for iOS, Android or both. Software Development Kits (SDKs) for Android and iOS are useful, thus picking either OS is wise. Ideally, picking a platform that enables you to create cross-platform AR apps will help give you more functions and also help you reach a larger audience.

It’s vital to choose the best tools to build augmented reality mobile apps. This involves picking the ideal platform with all the necessary tools and plugins to start from scratch and then developing it into a high-quality mobile application. Here are some points to consider while choosing the right platform.

• It should ideally support multiple operating systems, especially iOS and Android. Remember, the more platforms it supports the better it is for the users.
• You may have to choose between a free and paid version of the product. 
• Confirm that it supports cloud recognition, as it ensures mobile apps can identify markers without taking up a lot of storage space on the device. 
• As real-time triggers require 3D tracking and identification, make sure that these features are available. 
• For a location-based app, the AR tool you choose must allow geolocation which is a vital feature. AR games and apps designed to display information on specific locations can use GPS too.
• Any AR app must have an image recognition feature as it allows recognition of objects, locations and photos.

ARCore is one such framework that can assist you in designing an AR app for Android. Mobile applications based on ARCore have a wider audience because they run on both iOS and Android smartphones. It gives your phone the ability to perceive its surroundings, understand the outside world and interact with information by using different APIs.

If you are creating an iOS AR app, you can use the ARkit. It is a powerful framework that integrates device motion tracking, camera scene capture, smart scene processing and display conveniences. The AR experiences can be created by using the front and rear cameras of the iOS device. 

How To Build an AR App?

Building an AR app requires a lot of expertise and if you are new to software and languages such as Java or C++, hiring a professional is the best option. 

• While building an AR app the first step is to decide which tools and platforms you want to use to create it
• Once you have chosen the platform, you need to work on considering the design of your app
• The UI of the app should not be cluttered and must be easy to understand
• Check for necessary hardware specifications to run your app
• Keep user safety in mind, when creating the app
• When developing an enterprise app you must consider the issue that the business is trying to resolve with the app
• When developing an AR game, zero down on the concept and the appropriate software that enables immersive plugins

The two basic approaches for creating a mobile app include hiring a development team to construct it or outsourcing it to the AR app development firms. Developers can choose from a variety of AR toolkits to build both location-based and marker-based applications. Selecting the AR SDK that best fits your needs is the first step in getting started with building an app.