Shopping has been in my blood for as long as I can remember. Clothes, home décor, jewelry, you name it, I shop for it. The only problem with shopping is its time consuming and if you're a busy working gal like myself then you may find you just don't have the time for it anymore. So, what do we do? We resort to online shopping rather than browsing the high-street stores. Its quick, simple and can even be done on the train home from work or while you catch up on the latest season of 90210.
Now, shopping online does come with its advantages. You often find products are cheaper, plus you can hunt around for the best deals rather than being confined in one shop. You have an almost endless selection of different websites to browse plus everything you order gets delivered straight to your door saving the mundane task of lumping a load of bags around with you all day.
However, the problem with shopping online is you can't try anything on. You can't the 'feel' of anything whether that be an item of clothing or a new piece of furniture for your newly decorated dining room. You're solely reliant on a few images and a brief description.
Welcome to the future of online shopping!
Augmented reality is changing the way we shop in a big way whether that be fashion, retail or anything else.
Probably the most well-known AR shopping app was release by Ikea in 2017. The app takes advantage of Apple's AR software ARKit, allowing you to position 3D virtual products in your physical space using your mobile phone. This means you can position products from the company's catalog such as sofas, tables, and computer desks; and then see what they look like in your home. You can see the products 100% life-sized, move, scale, change the color, and rotate them, and then position them in your desired location.
The app proved hugely popular, ranking number 2 in most downloaded free ARKit apps which has since seen the birth of other AR shopping apps such as Home Depot, Wayfair, and Target.
The thing that makes augmented reality shopping so appealing is that you get the best of both worlds. You get the practicality and simplicity of browsing and ordering from your smartphone, but you get the physical and visual aspect as you would when high-street shopping. You can try on
virtual products like shoes, trousers, and handbags and see if you like them before you make a purchase. Or, in other words, try before you buy!
What's more, is AR is not limited to clothing and décor, you can even try on makeup! Apps like
Sephora use facial recognition software which allows you to digitally apply makeup. Anything from the foundation, to bronzer to eyeliner all comes included with a wide variety of different shades.
Then, of course, there is my other most loved shopping item, jewelry. DangleAR is an AR app that allows you to try on earrings using augmented reality. This is a really cool application for finding some blingy accessories to match a hot new dress or to just find something casual for everyday wear. You can try on different styles and watch them move in a realistic way so you can get an authentic feel for them.
There is no denying that online shopping is being transformed using augmented reality technology and this 'trend' is only going to keep growing.
With AR glasses heavily in development, who knows where the future of online shopping is truly going. Maybe you'll have your own virtual assistant in the room with you or your very own holographic personal shopper showing you what you should and shouldn't buy. It's a crazy thought, but one that doesn't seem impossible in today's world.
