The market for fashion-related apps that utilize AR is currently popular, with brands like of officialchromehearts The North Face, Nike and even luxury brands Burberry all launching some form of AR application on their websites. However, another segment of the business appears to be following suit as furniture stores are also becoming involved in AR too.
While these have been case studies conducted by companies on a whim basis What’s the next step? What are we to anticipate from this technology in regards towards the next generation of interior design and furniture? This article looks at five ways that technology can alter our homes in five years.
Virtual Try-ons:
The issue with purchasing clothing online is that they often aren’t fitting properly or require fitting. Similar to that, purchasing furniture online is a challenge because you aren’t sure if it’s going to fit in your living space or how it appears from different perspectives.
In this way, augmented realities can aid, VR companies such as Zanran permit users to superimpose photos of 3D models on their real surroundings to see how they’d look like prior to making a purchase. That means, even when you’re purchasing an item like a sofa but you don’t see the dimensions in person, you can see whether it’s appropriate using AR before you make an purchase.
The final product:
Although a few apps have offered us an idea of the technology’s capabilities but only now are retailers starting to incorporate AR into their workflows, which is an important move to increase engagement.
Instead of only presenting a standard product playboicartishop catalog, a retailer might offer the ‘virtual room plan that allows consumers to imagine how different furniture items could look in their home. This is a major improvement for retailers because they have the chance to advertise not just their own items but the entire range, and with social media being an integral aspect of people’s lives today augmented reality gives furniture companies the chance to stand out from the rest of the pack.
The effect of 3D:
Another way retailers can utilize Augmented Reality to differentiate themselves from the rest is to incorporate 3D models to the images. While this was done on a temporary basis typically by smaller businesses or entrepreneurs on their own there are a lot of reasons this strategy may become more common soon.
For instance, there are now companies which offer 3-D scan services. These services measure any room and create a 3D model for you to view before purchasing. As this kind of technology gets more widely used, it is likely to alter the way homeowners design their homes.
Personalized pieces:
With the use of augmented reality to allow customers to imagine how items appear before purchasing an item, a different trend likely to be the possibility of personalizing the products further with personalization.
There are a few companies such as Morphine which allow users to upload their own photos to furniture like lamps or chairs however, as AR technology develops, we can expect home furnishings firms to start offering a variety of ways to let customers make their items unique. For instance, retailers might permit users to make 3D prints of their personal furniture, which will allow users to design bespoke furniture which are ideal for their home.
Smart home or smart homes:
The ultimate goal for Augmented Reality is to make our lives more convenient when at home, by doing small daily tasks.
An interesting concept in this regard is to have technology available that will let you visualize what your garden will look like prior to planting anything by using one of two methods: AR or VR. Instead of taking pictures and measurements of a brand new construction project, prospective homeowners can use apps such as HoloBuilder which allows you to see what the garden will look like when the bricks are laid.
This kind of technology could be particularly useful in the creation of unique spaces such as the swimming pool or garden pond which allows the customer to envision what the final project will look like, without needing to go through many months in trial-and-error.
