Geek Culture

The Real McCoy: How Augmented Reality Benefits Businesses and Engages Customers

Through the power of AR, businesses can give customers a deeper level of interaction.

Published

4 years ago

September 10, 2020

Frankie Wallace

Image Source: Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/mobile-phone-smartphone-3d-1875813/)

Let’s face it, no matter how you might excel in engaging your customers, you’re not going to win, and keep their business if you’re not able to help them understand how your product or service will make a tangible difference in their lives. And yet that ability to build real value for your costumes is often the key difference in converting a prospect into a sale.

It’s usually not enough, though, to appeal just to your customer’s intellect. You need to do more than explain, more than simply telling them what you have to offer. You have to make them feel the need, make them want the solution you have to offer. That usually requires a deeper level of persuasion, one that really shows them the difference your product can make in their lives.

And, increasingly, you have the power to do just that–thanks to innovations in augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR).

What’s the Difference?

It can be easy to confuse augmented reality (AR) with virtual reality (VR), but they’re actually quite different. AR uses technology, such as glasses, digital screens, smartphones, etc., to alter the sights and sounds of the physical environment you’re actually in in some way.

VR, on the other hand, takes you out of your actual physical environment and plops you down in some alternate reality. Through the use of headsets, gloves, and other peripherals, you’re able to engage with this other world as though you were really there.

Even Better Than the Real Thing?

The simple fact is it may well be in the fields of business, marketing and customer experience that AR achieves its highest potential.

For example, with AR, shoppers can use a selfie and their smartphones or mobile devices to “try on” different shoes or articles of clothing. Clients can experiment with different hairstyles before making a trip to the salon. You can even check out a seemingly endless variety of specs before you shell out the big bucks for your new prescription eyewear.

Customer experience is, after all, imperative to capturing and growing that relationship. And there’s nothing like being able to offer your customers a level of service and engagement that competitors just can’t match.

AR can provide a second-to-none customer experience because, not only can your customer lose themselves “playing” with your products, but they’ll also be much more likely to actually like how the item looks on them. That’s not only going to decrease the number of returns, but it’s also going to boost your relationship with your customer. What your customer sees is what your customer is going to get, which means no nasty surprises when your customer shops online or places an in-store order.

But that’s not all. AR even allows customers to transform photos on a traditional print page, such as a magazine or newspaper, into 3D images they can practically reach out and touch, all with a simple smartphone app. This can bring your advertising to the next level. It’s notoriously difficult to take a 2D image and accurately envision what the object would look like in 3D, but with AR tools like these, you’re helping your customers overcome that problem and, in the process, potentially revolutionizing your advertising!

The Takeaway

Virtual and augmented reality is more than a gamer’s dream. Now, more than ever, they’re also the best way to optimize your business. That includes providing your customer with an experience that other retailers just can’t compete with. It’s about taking your customers’ reality and making it better!

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Gaming

Street Fighter 6, the highly anticipated brawler for PS5 and PS4, is receiving a significant balance update

Published

7 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Zach Riley

Street Fighter 6, the highly anticipated brawler from Capcom, is set to receive significant balance adjustments coinciding with the arrival of Akuma on May 22nd. The trailer above offers a glimpse of the latest updates, highlighting the introduction of an exciting new wakeup drive reversal mechanic. This provides players with a valuable tool for countering combos, particularly in situations where they find themselves cornered on the screen.

The trailer showcases a plethora of fresh combat options for almost every character, hinting at potential nerfs to balance out the buffs that are being showcased. It’s safe to say that not everyone will be pleased with the changes, especially if beloved characters are being toned down. However, we’ll have to wait for the response from the competitive community to truly gauge the impact.

The release of Akuma will mark the end of the first season of content for the game, and fans can anticipate an announcement regarding the second season in the coming summer months.

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Gaming

New Fallout 4 PS5 Update Is Available to Download Now

Published

1 day ago

May 14, 2024

Zach Riley

In accordance with Bethesda’s previous announcement, the developer has now made available a new PS5 patch for Fallout 4. This patch focuses on enhancing the game’s graphical options and includes additional fixes and improvements. The update is now ready for download on PS5, with a compact size of just 189.4MB. You’ll have it downloaded and installed in no time.

Bethesda hasn’t yet released any official patch notes for version 1.000.002. However, players have already started sharing their findings, suggesting that the resolution and frame rate settings can now be adjusted separately on the title screen. Now you have the option to select from three different target frame rates (30 fps, 40 fps for select TVs, and 60 fps), along with the choice of either a native 4K resolution or a dynamic one. The upcoming update will address the visual bugs that have been reported in the PS5 version.

Update: Bethesda has provided the patch notes for PS5 update 1.10.985:

Display settings for Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5

Thanks to your valuable feedback, we have successfully incorporated the feature that allows you to adjust the graphic quality and performance. We strongly suggest sticking with the default settings, but now you have the option to customize your preferences to better suit your playstyle and display.

Setting the frame rate target

You have the option to select between 30, 40, and 60 (default) for the Frame Rate Target. It’s worth mentioning that in order to choose 40, your display needs to have the capability to handle 120 Hz.

Emphasizing Visual and Performance Prioritization

Now you have the option to select between Visuals and Performance (default) in order to uphold the frame rate target. If you opt for a Frame Rate Target of 60, it is advisable to choose the Performance option. Both modes have the ability to dynamically adjust internal resolution as scenes or actions become more intense.It is important to remember that both modes can only be adjusted from the main menu.

Bug Fixes

General stability improvements
Fixed visual issue with certain image spaces
Auto HDR is re-enabled (Xbox Series S|X)
Fixed issue where reserved space was not displayed correctly in load order menu (Xbox Series S|X)
Fixed issue with character name field when in widescreen mode. (PC)
Fixed an issue that occasionally caused bundles to not fully download and could cause a crash
Fixed an issue with material swaps
Fixed an issue with load order that would break DLC until a restart after downloading mods (PlayStation 5)
Fixed an issue that would occasionally cause a crash if you returned to the Main Menu with queued mods still downloading (PlayStation 5)
Fixed an issue that could cause the Creation Club menu to not appear (Microsoft Store)
Fixed a crash that could occur when connecting to the network after a suspend/resume with the network disabled (Xbox One)

Creations Fixes

Fixed missing art issue with certain Creations

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Gaming

Helldivers are angry at Arrowhead because the community manager was fired without due process

Published

5 days ago

May 10, 2024

Zach Riley

Throughout history, it has become evident that, in the face of tyranny, those who cherish liberty and democracy will stop at nothing to defend them. They will fight relentlessly, using every last round of ammunition and shedding the final drop of blood. In a stunning turn of events, it appears that developer Arrowhead is facing a potential revolution, as previously loyal Helldivers 2 players who once supported the developer are now expressing their outrage. They passionately advocate for justice and the inclusion of the undemocratically dismissed community manager, who has affectionately been nicknamed “General” Spitz, into the official in-game lore.

In typical fashion, an overnight Change.org petition (courtesy of RPS) has garnered nearly 4,500 signatures at the time of writing. This is an attempt to make Arrowhead reevaluate their decision to let go of Spitz, a community manager who has been an integral part of the community since the game’s release. In the midst of the PC/PSN account linking debacle, Spitz, like a game critic sensing the winds of fate, rallied the community on Discord (as seen on Twitter) to express their discontent through reviews, refunds, and other means. It enhances our influence in the discussions with Sony. They completely disregard our discord.

After the chaos subsided the following day (yesterday), Spitz addressed the community, describing this action as “almost.” It hasn’t exactly resulted in their termination. Shortly after, a final transmission was confirmed where Spitz disclosed that they had been released, expressing their resilience by saying, “Every war has its casualties.”

On May 7, 2024, around 11:45 PST, the Helldivers Discord community made an interesting discovery. It seems that the community manager, Spitz, had been unexpectedly removed from his position, and any evidence of his previous involvement in the discord was completely wiped out. This incident seems to have ignited a revolution, with Helldivers demanding the immediate reinstatement of Spitz and his immortalization in the game for his self-sacrifice.

“We strongly advocate for the official canonization of General Spitz in Helldivers lore. Embracing the spirit of liberation. Supporting democracy. For the betterment of the game and its devoted community.

It’s interesting to see how this situation unfolds. Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt himself commends the determination of players in the Sony showdown, but there seems to be a hint of contradiction here. “General” Spitz provided us with some thought-provoking words to ponder: “I was well aware of the potential consequences when I made my statement about refunding and altering reviews; nevertheless, I remain steadfast in my position. I fulfilled my role as a representative of the community, just as I was expected to.