Introduction to Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that has been predicted to interrupt into the mainstream for several years. However, it’s now not a rising technology – it’s already here. We’ve seen it in our on a regular basis lives, from Snapchat filters to Pokémon Go, and it’s expected to hit the billion mark by 2020. With over 500 AR firms listed on the startup database AngelList, it’s likely that you will be asked to design an application for it soon.
Why Use Augmented Reality in Ecommerce?
AR describes the mix of real-life input, stimuli, or environs with computer-generated ones. Unlike virtual reality, which replaces the analog world completely, AR augments it, melding the actual and the digital to create something latest. In ecommerce, AR is usually used for distant, real-time product visualization, allowing customers to try on products or see how they might look of their environment without leaving their homes.
Benefits of AR in Ecommerce
The use of AR in ecommerce can play a serious role in the shopper’s purchasing decision, particularly for products that require a high level of commitment or personalization. It can even increase customer engagement and brand loyalty. A survey by RetailPerceptions found that 71% of shoppers would patron a retailer more often in the event that they offered AR, and 61% would favor a store that offered AR over one that did not.
Designing for Augmented Reality
Designing AR applications will be intimidating, even for seasoned UX designers. The interface shouldn’t be sure to a physical screen, and the viewport moves because the user does. To design an efficient AR application, you could consider the inputs and outputs of the user experience, environmental considerations, and user fatigue.
Input and Output Definition
Defining the inputs and outputs of the user experience is crucial in AR design. This includes determining what elements a user can and can’t interact with, in addition to the physical gestures and device inputs available. For example, a cell phone’s voice recognition is a low-fidelity input, while a tactile button has higher fidelity.
Environmental Considerations
AR designers use 4 different signifiers to explain an AR environment: public, social, personal, and intimate. These descriptors signify the areas surrounding the user and the character of the AR app itself. Spatial considerations have to be accounted for when designing how users will interact with distant objects in frame.
User Fatigue
User fatigue is a typical issue in AR design, particularly when the user’s entire body acts as a controller. UX designers have to be extra cognizant of interaction costs and take precautions to avoid repeated, high-effort interactions that may tire out the user.
Essential Design Principles
Despite the brand new technology, it’s essential to recollect the fundamental tenets of user experience design. AR applications aren’t the time to get too creative and break from design standards. On the contrary, you will need to implement more hand-holding than you’d an ordinary desktop site or mobile app.
Augmenting User Experience
By combining the rules described here along with your existing skillset, you may be crafting AR apps for ecommerce stores very quickly. Remember to take comfort within the incontrovertible fact that you have already got the tools you could design beautiful, engaging AR experiences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, augmented reality isn’t any longer a rising technology – it’s already here, and it’s expected to play a serious role in ecommerce. By understanding the advantages of AR in ecommerce, designing effective AR applications, and remembering essential design principles, you may create engaging AR experiences that augment user experience. Whether you are a seasoned UX designer or simply starting out, it is time to experiment with designing for augmented reality and see the impact it could have in your ecommerce store.
