Augmented Reality – It Does What?

By Dean Schwartz – Last week, we introduced to you an idea with vending machines as a vehicle for delivering custom promotional products while driving brand awareness. This week, we’re introducing you to augmented reality. What’s that? Well, according to the good folks at Wikipedia, Augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. So what does that mean?

Augmented Reality T-shirt

Let’s make it easier for you: it’s basically a way of viewing the world, just like you always do, but with added information and images. Imagine putting a QR code on a coaster or t-shirt. Easy, right? Now, imagine that you’re viewing that item through a smart phone or tablet. Still with us? Here’s where augmented reality comes in. With augmented reality in place, the user can use his/her smart phone or tablet to see a commercial or a video, right on top of the image that they’re looking at. It’s part real, part imagined – and 100 percent awesome!

Got that?

In addition, you can use this technology not only as a brand-boosting conversation starter, but as a sales driver, too. For example, you can give users a code via augmented reality so that they can get a free gift after watching your video. You can make it redeemable on your website or hey, even via your promotional products vending machine.

Take a look at how it works with in a video from our technology partner:

Got the hang of it? Think this is that one-of-a-kind technology that could get you the game-changing recognition within your industry? We’re SOBO Concepts and we’d love to set you up with augmented reality for your brand or business, and help you strategize the SWAG-tastic ideas that will take your business to the front of the line. Call us today at 888.752.0432 to get going!