Introduction to Augmented Reality
The world of augmented reality has made incredible strides lately, and now USC students might be among the many first to demo one of the vital exciting apps in the sphere to this point. Utilizing the burgeoning technology of AR, the brand new app Neon AR will make it easier to fulfill up with friends and navigate to points of interest. With its social-friendly interface, the app is designed to offer users a fun experience that enhances the practicality of the service it provides.
The Concept Behind Neon AR
Neon, a brand new app created by alumnus Dave Urbina, augments reality by allowing users to see virtual markers showing where their friends are and “shoot” 3D emojis at individuals with the app in close proximity. Founder Dave Urbina attended USC, and said that conducting beta testing with students at his alma mater was a straightforward decision. “There’s quite a lot of learning available somewhere like USC, where students are attempting to fulfill up on daily basis,” he said. “There’s quite a lot of density, and so it is sensible for us to check there and get insightful feedback.”
From Film to Coding
Urbina graduated from the School of Film and Television in 2006. While in class, Urbina said he was primarily interested by the immersiveness of cinema, but kept in mind alternative, less traditional profession tracks he could pursue. “I feel because I didn’t put myself right into a box and say, ‘I’m going to be a author, I’m going to be a director,’ I had my mind open to the potential of exploring other cinematic experiences,” he said. “That was mainly the launching point for me and my pivot, in teaching myself find out how to code.”
The Birth of Neon AR
The idea for Neon AR got here to Urbina during a camping trip along with his wife in 2015. Urbina wanted a strategy to connect real-life experiences with the virtual world, and realized an app could possibly be the proper strategy to realize his vision. “The next morning, I believed to myself, ‘Wouldn’t it’s amazing if we got here back to this spot years later, with friends or kids, and I used to be in a position to open my phone and see a neon sign, saying that is where David camped on July 10, 2015?’” he said. “That was the genesis of it, the flexibility to expand a brand new layer on the world, and have a more engaging visceral reference to the physical world.”
How Neon AR Works
Neon AR works by latching on to the user’s phone’s GPS signal, after which digitizing their real world location onto the phone with the onboard camera. When trying to seek out a user’s friend, the app positions a beacon that is still in place on the screen, allowing them to make their way over to them with the virtual aid. The user interface incorporates fun elements to enliven the experience, and make the on-screen world much more engaging. “The way that you simply interact within the app, you possibly can shoot 3-D emojis at people,” Urbina said. “So I shoot emojis at Tim and he gets a push notification, so he opens his phone and turns in my direction, they usually come zooming at him, and he can fire back. Then I’ll look and see Sarah some other place eating lunch, and I can navigate to her and find her. It’s literally placing your folks visually on this planet around you, so you possibly can interact with them in a way that hasn’t been done.”
The Team Behind Neon AR
Writing the extensive code for Neon AR was somewhat difficult, especially as Urbina had only recently taught himself find out how to code. After trying to find months for a partner with the precise type of experience to complete the app, Urbina found Tim Brandt, a graduate from the University of Michigan, who fulfilled all of the crucial credentials. Before joining Neon AR, Brandt had spent 11 years within the visual effects field, programming computer graphics and dabbling in computer vision. He had familiarity with GPS technology through his work on a safe-driving app, which might use users’ location to see in the event that they were in a “danger zone” where specializing in the road was imperative. When Urbina reached out about his developing app, Brandt saw it as the proper fit for his skillset and was desirous to become involved.
Focus on the Product
Urbina tagged his good friend from USC, Rob Ogden, to function his adviser. Ogden did somewhat little bit of every little thing when he got here on board, assisting with strategy and capital raising, drawing on his years of experience in entrepreneurship. For Ogden, keeping a primary give attention to the product itself is paramount, and guided his philosophy when he joined the team. It wasn’t difficult for him to persuade the Neon AR team to think accordingly, as Ogden said they were already operating along the identical lines. While the initial product had an unlimited assortment of features, they agreed to decide on a core element to construct the app around, which became the flexibility to seek out friends with more ease.
Future Plans for Neon AR
Urbina sees the app becoming popular at massive gatherings akin to Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where meeting up with groups amid large crowds can often be difficult. While bad cellular service is commonly a reason for this and will potentially hinder Neon AR’s usefulness, the ultimate version of the app plans to make use of bluetooth location technology to maintain the app online as festivals proceed to bolster their infrastructure. “Our belief is that you simply at all times bet on technology,” Urbina said. “If we will construct a community of users, then when the technology matures, then we’ll be the primary movers there, and can already give you the chance to supply a strong user base to access with.” Neon AR might be available for download from the App Store.
Conclusion
Neon AR is an modern app that mixes the ability of augmented reality with social interaction, making it easier for users to fulfill up with friends and navigate to points of interest. With its unique features and user-friendly interface, Neon AR has the potential to revolutionize the way in which we interact with one another and our surroundings. As the app continues to develop and improve, it can be exciting to see the way it shapes the long run of social interaction and augmented reality.
