What is the Metaverse?

The financial, virtual, and physical worlds have grown more intertwined. They’re now freely accessible as part of a growing outlet, the Metaverse. This new “reality” is a three-dimensional, permanent, online environment that integrates numerous virtual places. It would link many platforms in the same way as the internet relates various websites that may be visited using a single browser. This new environment is thought to be a future version of the internet. It will allow users to cooperate, meet, game, and interact in these 3D environments. For it to be effectively developed and used, a critical mass of interconnected tools and technologies in the Metaverse is needed, which we will be listing in this article.

What are the elements of the Metaverse?

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is a digitally augmented representation of a real-world physical area created by the use of digital visual components, audio, or other sensory inputs made available by technology. It is an increasing trend among businesses in a variety of industries like retail, tourism, education, and healthcare. One of the key aims of augmented reality is to underline certain properties of the physical world, improve comprehension of those qualities, and extract smart and accessible information that can be used in real-life applications.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is a synthetic three-dimensional setting that allows users to explore and interact with a digital world in a 360-degree way that approximates reality as perceived by the users’ senses. The main difference between it and augmented reality is that this world is viewed by using a Virtual Reality headset or helmet while the other begins with a camera-equipped device loaded with AR software, such as a smartphone, tablet, or smart glasses. In the Metaverse, VR technology allows individuals to work together in the same virtual environment regardless of physical distance.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is currently bridging the human-robot gap. When combined with the Metaverse, this technology maintains the stability of the virtual realm’s infrastructure. It can learn from past web iterations, taking into consideration historical data to provide unique outputs and insights. It may be deployed in 3D environments to promote lifelike interactions with users or to accomplish various activities. In addition, artificial intelligence is used to create realistic avatars in the Metaverse by evaluating 2D photos or 3D scans and developing accurate facial expressions, haircuts, outfits, etc.

Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of physical things ranging from household products to complex industrial equipment that is fitted with sensors, software, and other technologies to connect and share data with other devices and platforms over the internet. Combined with the Metaverse, it will enable professionals in technology to construct digital twins or duplicates via virtual persons and digital reproductions. Without it, the metaverse would be unable to provide its consumers with such realistic virtual experiences. It will act as a catalyst for the Metaverse, providing consumers with intuitive experiences during virtual shopping sprees, real estate transactions, gaming activities, and so on.

Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies

Blockchain technology provides a decentralized and transparent solution for digital ownership proof, collectibility, value transfer, governance, accessibility, and interoperability. On the other hand, cryptocurrencies enable individuals to exchange value in a three-dimensional digital world while working and socializing. That said, crypto can be used as a means to buy anything users can think of in the Metaverse such as virtual land, outfits, event tickets, video games, and many more. Through blockchain technology, it would become feasible to establish and protect ownership of such purchases. 

Processors of Mobile Devices

To appeal to the general audience, AR on mobile phones will need to function on glasses similar to those seen in the physical market. As processes demand extra cores and components, compact, ultrafast mobile processors that can be integrated into standard glasses, VR devices, and high-end mobile processors with low latency and high frame rates, are needed. Optical elements compatible with common silicon components may also be added. This might eventually result in faster data transfer.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is a technologically enhanced version of the physical world that is achieved via the use of digital visuals, audio, or other sensory stimuli. One of the primary goals of augmented reality, amid the rise of data collection and analysis, is to highlight particular aspects of the real world, increase their understanding, and generate smart and accessible information that can be applied to the physical realm. This big data can help companies make better decisions and get to know the consumers’ spending habits, among other things.

That said, augmented reality in eCommerce allows customers to visualize products or experience services in their own space and on their own time before making any purchase. Customers can also preview products using augmented reality, increasing their chances of picking the right product from the very beginning of their shopping experience. Therefore, businesses, CEOs, and marketing teams that think forward are already using augmented reality to engage customers in new, imaginative, and increasingly immersive ways. This technology industry is expected to expand from $6.12 billion in 2021 to $97.76 billion by 2028.

 

In this article, we provide 5 examples of how major brands are utilizing augmented reality in their shopping experience. 

Brands Using Augmented Reality

Sephora

Sephora is one of the businesses that has successfully integrated AR technology into its ecosystem. This “Virtual Artist” app allows users to obtain a virtual makeover, star in lessons, and quickly share hobbies with others. The program scans candidates’ faces, analyzes their eyes, lips, and cheeks for product placement, and allows them to virtually experiment on cosmetics. The software also offers virtual step-by-step instructions tailored to each face, matches cosmetic colors to an outfit, and compares hundreds of color swatches in real-time. 

ASOS

ASOS has always been innovative when it comes to mobile apps, having already integrated visual search into its incredibly user-friendly mobile interface. By 2019, ASOS had completely embraced augmented reality, unveiling an experimental augmented reality feature called Virtual Catwalk, which was aimed to enable app users to envision a hundred items.

As a result of the epidemic, ASOS expanded its “See My Fit” technology, which used augmented reality to digitally fit garments clothes, and accessories onto models.

This technology also allowed the brand to improve the consumer experience by showing customers how things genuinely look in different sizes and on different body shapes. 

Samsung

Joining forces with us at Designhubz, we created for Samsung a try-before-you-buy technology that enables shoppers to easily place their refrigerators and washing machines in the desired space, with the exact size and fit. This web-based augmented automation works in any web browser and on any device, iOS or Android. Not only that, but we also focused on improving the interactivity of the AR experience by allowing users to virtually open fridge doors, see them on the inside, and select the option that best meets their needs. Therefore, users are being provided with the ability to make the most convenient and practical decisions during online purchases.

IKEA

Ikea’s design studio, Space10, has revised the company’s augmented reality product to make it more useful and immersive. Previously, users could arrange virtual furniture in a space using the IKEA Place app. The all-new IKEA Studio software, which now uses LiDAR sensors in iPhones, allows users to record and re-design whole 3D room designs, including everything from windows and door frames to wall colors and carpets. However, IKEA Studio is not yet linked to the official website, resulting in a rather isolated user experience. This version of the app was created in part to prepare for the advent of Apple Glass, which might enable a more immersive and realistic AR experience.

Gucci

Gucci was among the first luxury brands to assist customers in making more educated purchasing selections by adding an augmented reality feature to its app that allowed users to virtually try on sneakers. This is a very practical application of augmented reality in retail; by providing customers with a visual representation of how a product will appear in real life, the technology was able to reduce returns and increase customer satisfaction. Gucci has also launched a pair of virtual sneakers that can only be worn and shared on online platforms such as the Metaverse. This is one of the earliest examples of ‘digital fashion,’ a notion that some anticipate may soon take off, based on the surge in popularity of both virtual influencers and AR filters on social media.

Converse

Another shoe brand that has been making the most out of AR is Converse which has found a way to both enrich the customer experience and drive e-commerce sales at the same time. The Converse Shoe Sampler app allows the user to simply point a phone or tablet at their feet from wherever they feel comfortable and instantly see how different models and colors of shoes might look on their feet. What makes Shoe Sampler so unique is that it integrates seamlessly with Converse’s e-commerce platform, allowing consumers to go from shopping to purchasing instantaneously.

What is the Metaverse?

The Metaverse is a persistent, online, three-dimensional universe that combines various virtual spaces. It would connect multiple platforms, similar to how the internet connects various websites that can be accessed through a single browser. This new realm can be considered a future iteration of the internet. Users will be able to collaborate, meet, game, and socialize in these 3D spaces thanks to it. Augmented reality will be the primary technology that powers it, with each user controlling a character or avatar.

The Metaverse and product design

The process of creating digital or physical goods is known as product design. It is generally based on research and takes into account the user’s experience. But how is the Metaverse changing product design, you might ask? It is doing so by allowing designers to have the full autonomy to create products that never existed previously. It now becomes less about how to get products from the physical realm into the Metaverse and more about innovating new ones with elevated value in the digital space. For instance, certain fashion brands like Nike and Balenciaga have developed products that consumers would not necessarily wear in real life if they were available, but which assist them in establishing their virtual identities, molding them, or even defining the way they move and interact on this platform. The level of innovation is virtually limitless, giving designers unprecedented opportunities to push the boundaries of design.

History of the World Wide Web

Internet technology has been at the core of billions of people’s everyday lives providing them with information to retain and make use of. Tim Berners-Lee created the initial World Wide Web (Web 1.0) in 1989 for the primary purpose of posting and sharing data between academics and organizations. Users were shown a read-only service with which they could only engage offline. Soon enough, Web 2.0, which is what we now most commonly use, was created to further develop the first iteration into a user-generated platform that allows people to not only consume but also interact with the dynamic content put out there. However, users now are highly dependent on the Internet. They can easily become victims of fraud and hacks since all of their personal data is exposed and can be accessible to anyone, especially by tech giants that exploit them for financial profits. This accelerated the need for a technology revolution to produce a new version of the World Wide Web that addresses such issues: Web 3.0.

Definition and Features

The original web creator refers to this next phase of the Internet as the Semantic Web, which is based on the idea that data is designed to be read directly by computers. In other words, machine learning and artificial intelligence will be at the heart of information processing, allowing for a far more customized, error-free surfing experience that gives consumers greater control over their data. A few features of Web 3.0 can be listed as being decentralized, providing connectivity and advanced 3D graphics, and being permissionless and trustless.

Preparations for Web 3.0

There are many reasons why brands should care about Web 3.0. The former will enable shoppers to enjoy a more user-friendly eCommerce experience; it will also offer retailers new ways to build brand loyalty and drive sales. It is all about giving consumers intuitive shopping on their own terms in a personal, trustworthy, and rewarding experience. The new iteration of the World Wide Web’s services will also offer tailored product suggestions based on machine learning, allowing businesses to present customers with the correct items at the right time, increasing conversions, building trust, and driving sales. So what is it that businesses can do?

Leveraging 3D and AR Experiences

Recognizing the significance of 3D and Augmented Reality experiences in eCommerce is a solid starting point. In the Web 2.0 environment, creating “digital twins” for the Metaverse and allowing customers to engage with items through 3D and AR experiences is an ideal practice for future Web 3.0 interactions. Including this virtual luxe in online shopping will not only increase customers’ satisfaction with their buying process but will also drive more sales and increase brand loyalty. This is especially true for physical product dealers and makers. Companies must be able to navigate the new platform and understand how to use its capabilities to assist clients in finding what they want. This way, consumers can buy in Metaverse environments from wherever and will get the physical counterpart delivered right to their location.

Introduction of virtual-only items and new purchasing methods

Among physical and digital products, virtual goods have become a key focus of consumption online during the previous decade. Analyzing this phenomenon, it is evident that, unlike traditional products, the reasons why individuals buy virtual goods are intrinsically tied to the platform where they are offered. Therefore, with their increasing value, eCommerce brands will be urged to integrate virtual-only items that will leverage their business, making the experience of shoppers more pleasant and fulfilling. This shift is not only limited to the actual products but is also about ways of buying them. For instance, Gucci, the renowned luxury fashion company, has announced that it is now accepting ApeCoin, the proprietary cryptocurrency of the Bored Ape Yacht Club, as a new payment method at select branches.

Wallet-based (or token-gated) interactions and brand loyalty

To remain competitive as brands transition from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0, they must employ new technologies. Projects are increasingly constructing open source bridges between the two web iterations to let businesses integrate their existing sites, systems, and data with tokens, smart contracts, and other blockchain technology. To take advantage of early product access and revenue sharing, brands must be able to identify and respond to NFTs in a user’s wallet by engaging with them in new, creative ways. When done so, brands may leverage NFTs as a new connecting bridge between high-value consumers and the brand products and services they enjoy.

Gaming is becoming a new sub-culture for luxury brands

Players can always customize the appearance and style of the characters they play, and many games now provide the choice of recognized designer brands as well. Not only does this provide brands with a subtle marketing opportunity, but it also allows gaming companies to position themselves as more culturally relevant and mainstream. Furthermore, much as customers may purchase designer clothing in real life, gamers are resorting to in-game items to compete with others or flex and identify themselves online.

Final Words

Since the creation of the first World Wide Web, technology has gone a long way, and Web 3.0 is ready to take brands to the next level. This iteration is the next big thing in eCommerce, providing a more user-friendly shopping experience by leveraging AI machine learning, voice assistants, AR/VR experiences, and blockchain technology to help consumers find what they’re searching for and complete transactions quickly and simply.

Definition of Mobile Augmented Reality

Mobile augmented reality is an AR service intended for mobile devices that allows individuals to interact with virtual things on their screens, which is a mixed display of the actual world and virtual 3D objects. Integrating this technology into smartphones and tablets is essential for businesses to follow as it is imperative to keep up with the different trends in the digital era we currently are in. 

Benefits of Mobile Augmented Reality

There are many benefits that come along with mobile augmented reality such as being less expensive, enhancing user experiences, strengthening trust relationships between customers and brands, and engaging audiences with products and services that companies provide; thus, increasing sales and profits. To date, this technology has proved its success with major brands adopting it like IKEA, L’oreal, Samsung, and Disney, and has been divided by three main factors:

• Application industries (i.e. tourism, marketing and advertising, gaming and entertainment, education, healthcare, and army training).
• End-users (i.e. enterprise and consumer).
• Geographical locations (i.e. North and South America, Europe, Middle East, Asia-Pacific).

Mobile Augmented Reality Market

In 2020, the global mobile augmented reality market size was estimated at $12.61 billion and is expected to increase by $153.62 billion in the time between 2022 and 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 46.46%, with an approximate expectation of a Year-Over-Year (YoY). One of the key drivers of mobile AR’s market size is the increasing reliance on apps and the spread of apps that integrate this technology for a variety of activities. Mobile apps are designed with the expectations and limitations of device categories in mind, while also utilizing the unique capabilities of a wireless computing device. In addition, the retail business is rapidly expanding and retailers are under pressure to show the value of items while maintaining their quality. These retailers are also active in seizing control of the product exchange process. Therefore, mobile AR is adopted in the industry to provide customers with an exceptional experience.

Definition

Synthetic data is information that is generated artificially as a substitute for real-world data. It is frequently developed using algorithms and is consumed for a variety of purposes such as a stand-in for production, AI model training, model validation, and training, as well as operational information test datasets. While artificial, it theoretically and statistically reflects real-world data. It can be as good as or even better than data collected on actual things. As a consequence, it is definite that in the coming years, synthetic data will have a major impact on how we perceive, invent, and use technology.

 

The importance of synthetic data lies in its ability to simulate any ‘what if’ condition or scenario, making it an excellent tool for proving a theory or modeling multiple outcomes.

How is Synthetic data generated

To produce synthetic data, a 3D representation of the object is needed. Living in a technologically advanced era, most objects are already virtual. 3D models have become commercialized thanks to many asset aggregation sites. Moving forward, specialized engines capture hundreds of photographs of 3D models from countless camera angles and lighting conditions. Each image has a corresponding segmentation mask, which separates the image’s various components. Doing so allows the 3D object to be integrated into larger sceneries, moved as desired, and triggered to generate complex behaviors using CGI.

Benefits of Synthetic data

Better data quality

Real-world data is often difficult to obtain and more expensive to gather. Not only that, but it is also prone to mistakes, bias, and inaccuracies that can compromise the quality of the information; thus, the quality of the results is deduced. With synthetic data, scientists work with more diverse, balanced, and quality information. Generating it drastically improves the dependability and efficiency of predictions, by doing everything from automatically filling missing numbers, automated labeling, and everything in between.

Increased anonymity

A second main advantage of synthetic data is that it maximizes the privacy of individuals. All personal information is usually erased and the data cannot be traced back to the original owner, preventing any potential copyright infringements or unethical use of it. This is important when trying to replicate genuine user behaviors since this type of data protects the privacy and security of the authentic data.

Enhanced performance testing and analysis

Synthetic data can be of use to test the performance of already existing systems and to train new ones on circumstances that aren’t represented in real data. Instead of using expensive traditional data to check if the system is generating the expected results, data scientists can adopt synthetic and analyze the results. Synthetic data can be useful in system training when actual data does not accurately reflect all possible scenarios. This is especially important in the defense sector, where the system must handle a wide range of invasion and attack forms. Artificial data can be used to train a system on a variety of circumstances that aren’t covered by legitimate data, hence strengthening its defensive capabilities.

Final words

In conclusion, synthetic data generation is faster, more versatile, and scalable than real-world data. There’s also more than that to this type of data. It allows scientists to accomplish new and innovative things that would be hard to achieve with real-world data alone, and it feeds the models that will influence how we all live in the data-driven future.

“Select an item, add it to your cart, and check out.” When it comes to eCommerce, this simple series of clicks has made our lives easier. For a long time, people have been shopping online. However, our heavy usage of this tool revealed a whole slew of issues we hadn’t seen previously. The inability to exchange or return things is a widespread problem that makes us wary of shopping online. What if it isn’t a good fit? What if it doesn’t turn out well or as expected?

Online 2D product visualization has been proven to be ineffective in resolving such issues. As a result, new technologies have emerged in recent years. Creating VR automation allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in 3D product visualization, removing that “blocking wall.” Despite the fact that this approach solves a wide range of issues, this doesn’t negate that it limits the capacity to interact with data.

A long-lasting pandemic was enough to change our lifestyles, priorities, and behaviors. Just when we thought the world couldn’t get any more digital, new technologies surprise us on the constant. In that sense, retailers didn’t miss the opportunity to accelerate and revolutionize the way we shop.

What is 3D product digitization?

Choosing items based on how we most commonly see them in 2D is slowly becoming of the past. In fact, it’s inconvenient for shoppers now to take risks not knowing how their items would size, fit, or look in real life.

Therefore, the industry is now heading towards 3D product digitization. As its name refers, it is when digital capabilities and physical products are merged to allow buyers to perceive items exactly the way they see them in the three-dimensional world, but through a screen. The best part is that they are still doing all that from the comfort of their home.

How does it work?

We, at Designhubz, have 3 ways of digitizing products but eventually pick the most suitable one depending on the case presented:

3. Utilize our in-house automatic digitization rig! You won’t need to recruit 3D professionals or use augmented reality. Our digitization rig, on the other hand, takes care of everything. It will scan your physical products in 360 degrees and build realistic 3D and AR replicas of them in real-time. These assets are automatically posted into your XR CMS account once they’ve been scanned, allowing you to manage, embed, publish, and distribute them throughout your website, app, social media, and marketing campaigns.

Let’s get a little more technical and describe what we do behind the scenes: We use AI-assisted tools to construct efficient 3D surfaces and QA material aspects (metal, glass, plastic, wood, etc.) “in context.” Following that, we incorporate the product’s pieces or features and send it to the partner’s account for feedback, or in the best-case scenario, we go live immediately. This is true for both methods 2 and 3.

You can learn more about it here.

Benefits of 3D product digitization

3D product digitization is much more than just an arising concept. It’s a whole experience for consumers and a large profit for companies. There is no room for web visitors to make wrong decisions when it comes to purchasing from now on. The try-before-you-buy feature washes all concerns away regarding this issue. Tech developers are able to provide them with a hassle-free buying process.

On another note, organizations are on the gain margin the most. This 3D product digitization technology is allowing them to collect data about their audience to contribute to their insights. This information can be used for better targeting and customer service in the long term. In addition, consumers who use this technology are 66% more likely to engage and trust a company compared to traditional 2D products images. There are also 40% higher chances of converting prospects into buyers and an almost 30% chance of increasing sales prices.

Red Alert for Companies

User experience is the foundation of any business. Without positive feedback and exceptional customer service, companies lose their credibility; thus, their existence as a powerful brand in the industry. To keep customers satisfied, organizations should make sure to maintain their website regularly. People don’t want to land on a malfunctioning website or a page with irrelevant information they are not searching for. The 3D product digitization backend software should maintain its flexibility and smoothness throughout.

To make sense of all this tech vocabulary, we’ve written this blog post to go over all the aspects of 3D product digitization, and to explain how Designhubz can assist your online business on the road to success!

What does product digitization mean?

2. How does it work?

How can it help your ecommerce?