If you ever miss the days when mobile phones were strictly for making and receiving calls, you need to get out more.
These days, smart phones are all the rage. Actually, they are quickly becoming the norm. Now, not everyone has a smart phone, but almost every person has email, uses social networking, and uses one form of digital communication or the other. Our society is laying down the groundwork for a world where everyone has to have some form of electronic communications device or be left behind.
Nothing wrong about that, if anything, companies are fairly quick on being able to make the most of mobile phone technology. Use of augmented reality apps are already being put into place in order to lead people to the right places and even buy the right products.
But are we really maximizing the potential? Joanne Jacobs, a speaker at the Like Minds conference certainly does not think so. She says “it’s hopeless”; and from a consumer standpoint, it is. Most AR apps are made for entertainment instead for function. And while getting people amused does earn money, the technology will only improve if the applications push the functional limits.
Location based services are even better; they are both timely and accessible. The concept of isolating needs not only according to time but also to a location would mean that people would be more willing to make use of the function because it is there, and it is readily available. It saves time, it saves effort and nothing will bring the money in better than folks who know they are getting a good deal.
The speech at the Like Minds conference even went on to discuss games; serious games. While not exactly the same hardcore titles gaming fans might want, these applications get people practicing and working out the skills they need. Better still, it is significantly cheaper from the business perspective too.
Get to read more of the Like Minds conference at the Guardian UK.
Tags: Augmented-, Augmented-Reality