Potential Uses for Apple’s new ARKit

Brief Look at Potential Uses for Apple’s new ARKit

Apple announced the release of its AR Kit. If you are unfamiliar with augmented reality, AR superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world (Layman’s terms: Augmented reality draws images on top of the world we see around us). This can be seen in apps such as Snapchat, Pokemon Go, etc.

Before the announcement of the AR kit, developers would need to be knowledgeable in OpenGL development, GLKit and complex engineering concepts. The AR kit allows for an easier way to draw digital objects into the 3D space without requiring heavy engineering to do it.

Now that you’re familiar with AR, I’m sure you’re wondering what you can do with AR aside from swap faces with your pets, draw funny filters on a face or chase 3D creatures. I see potential uses for this in several industries. I’ll list a few below:

Cosmetics

You walk into Sephora. Instead of having to use the bacteria filled trial mascara and risk getting a stye, you could scan a product and see how you would look while using the product all without ever applying a single brush stroke.

Housing

You could potentially furnish your whole house with virtually created furniture without having to lug heavy furniture around while you try to determine if the sofa looks better on the left or right side of the room.

Vision

A faster Warby Parker. Currently, this company ships lenses to you to try on for free. You can keep what you like, return what you don’t, and then pay for the ones you want to keep. AR could allow you to preview how a frame or even contacts look on you without having to wait for them to arrive to you,all on your phone! And with a simple click of a button, you could order your new glasses or contacts, hassle free.

I see a lot of potential time savings with product trials and AR. ARKit still will have it’s limitations as it’s in its earlier stages of development, but it has the potential to tap into many untouched markets.