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.

What is Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is a digitally enhanced depiction of a real-world physical space formed via the use of digital visual components, audio, or other sensory stimuli provided by technology. It is a growing trend among firms operating in a wide range of sectors.

In the middle of the growth of data collection and analysis, one of the primary goals of augmented reality is to highlight particular features of the physical world, enhance understanding of those qualities, and extract smart and accessible information that can be utilized in real-world applications. Big data may help businesses make better decisions and get insight into their customers’ purchasing behavior, among other things.

The Augmented Reality market size has been witnessing exponential growth in the past few years as it is being adopted more and more among businesses. The industry is now expected to increase at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 48.6% from $6.12 billion in 2021 to $97.76 billion in 2028.

That said, this article will be tackling the top 5 use cases of augmented reality.

Augmented Reality Use Cases

Appliances and Furniture

Augmented reality technology is altering the future of the electronics and home appliance industries. This advanced option is now enabling customers to see a product overlay wherever they aim their smart devices. They can preview how desired furniture and appliances will appear in their environment and instantly modify their types, colors, and sizes. This is great for picturing room layouts and color schemes before making a purchase that is as big as a new couch or refrigerator for instance. These products can also be viewed from every possible angle in an immersive 360-degree experience. This provides clients with a greater understanding of the value that a product offers.

Fashion

Augmented reality is now allowing people to view how clothes and accessories would look on them without even wearing them. It enables shoppers to imitate a real-life buying experience from anywhere, at any time. This try-before-you-buy feature has gained popularity among major clothing brands such as H&M, Ralph Lauren, Burberry, and Gucci, and resulted in fascinating results. In fact, 58% of customers now prefer to experience AR shopping; thus, adopting it is increasing their profits by 47%, their average order value by 40%, and finally minimizing their return rates by 50%. They now know that this technology is effective to enhance their reputation and help them build stronger credibility and a bolder trust relationship.

Education

While tablets have become commonplace in many schools and classrooms, augmented reality is now being utilized for a variety of purposes in all types of education. Teachers adopt augmented reality systems to integrate gamification into courses and develop instructional content. They are currently allowed to materialize abstract notions using AR technology to help learners perceive and grasp complicated topics. For instance, students studying astronomy may view a comprehensive map of the solar system, while those learning about history can experience digitized historical events through the use of Augmented Reality.

Tourism

In recent years, technology has been undergoing a long way toward advancing the tourism industry, from review traveling sites such as TripAdvisor to informative websites like Lonely Planet. However, augmented reality gives a great opportunity for travel businesses and brokers to provide potential tourists with a more immersive experience before they arrive. Consider taking a virtual “Walkabout” Australia before booking a flight to Sydney, or a leisurely stroll through Paris to see what museums or cafes you might want to visit. For that, Augmented Reality promises to make it much easier to sell trips, travel, and vacations in the future.

Healthcare

AR technology can improve the experience of healthcare professionals by providing them with information while they are on the job. As the healthcare sector faced several issues posed by the pandemic in the past couple of years, Augmented Reality has emerged as a beneficial tool for making medical personnel’s duties easier and safer through interactions between humans and machines, which eliminates the need for physical proximity and contact. Now that hospitals and medical facilities have seen the benefits of AR, it may gain traction over the years. Not only did AR help in cutting off healthcare expenses, but it also opened up several opportunities to assist surgeons while practicing their job and provided patients with improved access to treatment.

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.

The past decade held immense changes to the world with the constant emergence of new technologies it has witnessed and the greater is yet to come. Although tech developers have been tirelessly working in the past few years on improving XR experiences, this year is expected to witness a revolutionary crossing-bridge towards far more advanced features and realities.

Therefore, the biggest and most effective investment businesspeople can now make is integrating virtual and augmented reality accessibility into their sector as their global market size is predicted to reach $38 billion by 2026 . To help you better understand this year’s tech status, we compiled a list of the top 7 AR and VR trends you need to watch for in 2022.

1.VR and AR will change the educational and training system

It took us a global pandemic to realize how easier, more effective, faster, and safer digital learning and working can be. It is crucial to adapt to the current situation to keep going and this year is the one that will witness the most change in this industry.

Introducing VR and AR technologies to this sector will result in a better growing and learning process as it will help individuals immerse themselves in the information they are exposed to. In other words, they will not solely act as receptors of dry messages. They will have a chance to experience lessons and pieces of training by envisioning and picturing them. This will enable an increasing chance of better understanding, grasping, and retaining information. The learning process will no longer be just theoretical but also leaps to becoming a more practical one as well.

This will enable an increasing chance of better understanding, grasping, and retaining information. The learning process will no longer be just theoretical but also leaps to becoming a more practical one as well.

2.VR headsets will be produced in masses

This year is going to be the time in which we are close to starting living virtually. The educational and training system mentioned earlier is one in a sea of industries that will include VR and AR technologies in their sector, and headsets are crucial to hop on this futuristic concept. Witnessing a mass production of VR headsets in 2022 is not farfetched as they are predicted to become devices used by everyone just like mobiles are.

What aided in accelerating the production of VR headsets is the announcement Mark Zuckerberg made about the rebranding of Facebook into Meta and the creation of the new Metaverse. The tech giant, along with a few other companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Apple already started investing billions of dollars in building the most advanced and qualitative VR headsets, hardware, and software.

3.AR will change the way we shop online

Just when we thought online shopping has become an easier and faster process than in-store experience, AR stepped in to make it even easier and more effective. As much as we would like to think that shopping for products and services online is practical, we cannot disregard the fact that what we order might sometimes not fit, size, or even meet our expectations in real life. This is where AR steps in to solve this issue. These technologies will now more than ever create an engaging and immersive shopping experience that satisfies the wants and needs of consumers and clear their pain points. Integrating Augmented Reality on eCommerce websites allows customers to indulge in a try-before-you-buy procedure during their online purchase.

This opportunity not only feels more practical and effective for buyers but it also results in a 94% higher conversion rate  , helping businesses reach their sales goals. Going further, in-store customers can also benefit from VR and AR since many businesses have already started to work on virtual mirrors for try-on purposes. In the ever-evolving and fast-paced world we live in, this saves time and effort when going out shopping. In addition, tech developers are now ready to launch a new concept that displays feedback and reviews on products when in-store to take into consideration before buying them.

4.AR will be merged with Artificial Intelligence (AI)

As widely known, artificial intelligence is the ability of machines fed with data to do what humans can do but at a faster scale and more efficiently. Now imagine what wonders AI could do when combined with Augmented Reality. The result of pairing them together is one of the most interesting and advanced in the industry. It allows profound neural networks by replacing traditional approaches and implementing advanced features such as scene labeling, object detection, and text analysis. Once again, this shows how new technologies are helping us immerse, interact, and engage with our surroundings whether they are people, situations, objects, systems, etc.

5.AR will continue to develop in the automotive industry

Self-driving cars was always a concept we thought would be impossible to reach. However, with every new technology created, we are getting closer and closer to that. Even though very few are already manufactured, new upgraded features continue to appear with every new car model for now thanks to the ongoing development of AR. For instance, Mercedes is a leader in adding sophisticated AR-based features to its cars.

New vehicles manufactured now can show you the distance between your car and the one in front of you and notify you when you are getting off your lane or when you are close to arriving at an intersection. Without Augmented Reality, none of these ultra-modern features would have existed. This shows how essential AR is nowadays to ensure our safety and security, as well as to lead an easier and more practical, and efficient way of living.

6.AR and VR will play a role in developing the Metaverse

The word Metaverse has been heard on repeat lately by people and the mass media. However, it is not a new concept that emerged overnight. It has been there for quite a long time and most recently, some elements of it are found in the gaming industry (Minecraft, Fortnite, World of Warcraft, etc.). So what exactly is the Metaverse? In simple terms, it is a 3D virtual place where people can connect and socialize and is mainly based on advanced AR, VR, and video technologies. These components are the reason behind people’s ability to virtually hold business meetings for instance or studying, shopping, attending concerts, and much more exceptional activities. Augmented reality is responsible for immersing virtual objects into real life and VR is used to develop 3D computer modeling to engage in a unique virtual space.

You can think of the Metaverse as an experience, a replication of the physical world that eases communications and networks, enhancing the real presence feeling. Even though incredible amounts of money are being poured into developing 5G, VR, and AR technologies to make the Metaverse a thing, creators will have to solve many issues standing in their way. This year, more than ever, tremendous effort are being put into this, and hopefully, the full vision of the Metaverse sees light soon.

7.AR NFTs will become a widespread phenomena

Let’s start by defining what an NFT actually is as it might still sound confusing to some. In simple terms, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are digital assets existing on the blockchain proving ownership of any digital object, be it virtual or physical. Unlike cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Coin, etc.) that can be replaced or exchanged for the same value, NFTs are extremely unique and scarce that they cannot be so. No two are identical. Interestingly enough, they can represent literally anything you can think of: physical art, photographs, tweets, essays, in-game items, videos, music, etc.

When augmented reality and non-fungible tokens intertwine, these art pieces and moments representations are elevated to enable their visualization in an environment. To frame it in other words, AR is giving the chance for people to immerse themselves in a 3D experience of NFTs. This phenomenon is exceptional as it eases the selling, buying, and accessibility to NFTs, all while rewarding the initial creator like artists, auctioneers, and commerce retailers

Bottom line:

In today’s digital world, there is no escape from augmented reality and virtual reality. They provide companies with more benefits, privileges, and revenues in the easiest ways possible, as well as earn them customer loyalty and satisfaction. That said, it is never too late for organizations to invest in AR and VR as they are guaranteed to lead them a successful road.

With the fast-paced environment we live in nowadays, it is pivotal to always keep up with our surroundings. One of the things customers are adapting to lately is the online shopping experience. Being physically present in a store is now considered old-fashioned and a waste of time. Instead, people transited to online shopping, which indeed saves time but usually comes with a cost. There is no guarantee of accurate quality, size, or fit of products, which may leave online buyers frustrated and disappointed.

Therefore, we, at Designhubz, in partnership with Samsung, decided to shift our focus to provide users with a hassle-free online shopping process when looking for fridges and washing machines. Consumers are constantly and haphazardly being sold products and bombarded with annoying ads they most likely are to ignore. It has been this way for many years but has now come to an end with our advanced 3D and AR technology. With our try-before-you-buy technology, you can now easily place Samsung fridges and washing machines in your desired space with the exact size and fit, directly from your device without having any third party intervene whatsoever. Our Web-based AR technology works in any web browser and on any device be it iOS or Android.

Not only that, but we also worked on upgrading the interactivity level of our Augmented Reality offering by giving users the ability to virtually open fridges’ doors, see them on the inside, and choose the option that best meets their needs. With that being said, we are providing viewers with the power of making the most convenient and practical decision during online purchases.

Are you curious to learn how you can upgrade your online shopping experience? Book a demo now. You can also visit the store  to see how we brought Samsung products to life.