Introduction to Augmented Reality Advertising
Augmented reality (AR) is becoming increasingly popular amongst developers and users, because of tools like ARKit. However, like several recent platform, there continues to be a necessity for a complicated approach to monetize AR experiences beyond paying for downloads. A team of developers from Google and Snapchat aimed to handle this issue on the TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017 hackathon.
The Challenge of AR Advertising
The team, consisting of Sriram Bargav Karnati, Spandana Govindgari, Sai Teja Pratap, and Jaydev Ajit Kumar, spent 24 hours constructing a platform called ARAD to attach developers and advertisers. Their goal was to create a non-intrusive approach to insert advertisements into augmented reality games. "When we were constructing the app, we were pondering, hey, how can we place this ad in a non-intrusive way," Govindgari said. "When the user clicks this ad, they need to experience an entire recent ad format."
How ARAD Works
ARAD allows advertisers to put media assets on the platform, that are then inserted into AR games in a way that’s barely outside of the user’s sight view. For example, if a user is playing a game and has a water bottle in front of them, an ad for LaCroix might appear as a small interactive box. When the user taps on the box, they are going to see the ad, and that counts as an impression for the advertiser.
The Future of AR Advertising
Because AR is a brand new platform, there can be lots of experimentation with promoting. Karnati and his team envision a tool where advertisers can place 3D assets into AR experiences, moderately than simply 2D windows. This could lead on to more engaging and interactive ads that enhance the user experience. The team also sees potential for cross-promotion between developers, allowing them to charge advertisers more for access to a highly engaged audience.
Benefits for Developers and Users
The ARAD platform goals to assist developers monetize their AR experiences without annoying users with intrusive ads. "We want it to reinforce the experience for the user," Karnati said. "Most ads that are in-app are really annoying and supply a foul user experience. This is bringing real-world, contextual things into the app, and it’s probably not annoying the user." By providing a non-intrusive approach to advertise, ARAD may help developers support their lifestyle and create more engaging experiences for users.
Conclusion
The ARAD platform has the potential to revolutionize the best way advertisers interact with users in augmented reality. By providing a non-intrusive and interactive approach to advertise, ARAD may help developers monetize their experiences and create more engaging ads for users. As the AR platform continues to grow, it’ll be exciting to see how promoting evolves and becomes more sophisticated. With the assistance of platforms like ARAD, AR has the potential to grow to be a significant player within the promoting industry.
