Augmented reality has been gaining popularity in recent years due to its potential for enhancing user experience both online and in real life. In this article, we will discuss what it is, how it works and several ways it can improve website user experience.
What Is Augmented Reality?
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes digital information and media onto the physical world. It enhances the real-world environment with computer-generated elements, such as text, graphics, audio and video. It can be experienced through various devices, including smartphones, tablets and specialized headsets.
One of the most well-known examples of AR is Pokémon Go, a mobile game that allows players to catch virtual creatures in the real world using their smartphones. Other examples of AR include Snapchat filters that add virtual elements to a person’s face in a selfie and IKEA Place, an app that allows users to virtually place furniture in their homes to see how it looks before buying it.
AR has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with the world and has a wide range of applications in various industries, which include education, entertainment, retail and healthcare.
Ways Augmented Reality Can Improve Website User Experience
Enhanced Visual Experience
One of the main ways that AR improves website user experience is by enhancing the visual experience. By adding virtual elements to the real-world environment, it can create a more immersive and interactive experience for users.
For example, a fashion website could use AR to allow users to virtually try on shoes and clothes and see how they look before making a purchase. A home improvement website could use augmented reality to allow users to see how a piece of furniture would look in their home before buying it.
Increased Engagement
AR can also increase engagement by adding a new level of interactivity to a website. By allowing users to interact with virtual elements in the real world, AR can make a website more interactive and engaging.
For instance, a museum website can utilize AR to permit users to explore exhibits and learn about artifacts in a more interactive way. A travel website could also use it to allow users to virtually explore destinations and landmarks.
Improved Navigation
AR can also be used to improve navigation on a website. By adding virtual elements to the real-world environment, it can help users find their way around more easily. Additionally, it can provide detailed information about a particular location or feature.
Say an eCommerce website can make use of AR to grant customers permission to navigate through product categories and find what they are looking for quickly. A restaurant menu website can also use AR to offer customers an interactive way to explore different dishes.
Enhanced Customer Support
It can also be helpful in enhancing customer support by providing users with visual assistance and guidance.
A technical support website can potentially use augmented reality to provide users with visual instructions on how to troubleshoot a problem or repair a device. Also, websites like home repair could use it to give users with visual guidance on how to complete a task or fix a problem.
Increased Accessibility
AR can also increase accessibility by giving users visual aids and assistance. Moreover, AR can help to make a website more accessible for people with disabilities by providing them with visual and audio navigation.
An example of this is a fitness website that can use AR to provide visually impaired users with verbal instructions on how to perform exercises or complete workouts. An educational website can also use it to offer users visual assistance during lessons and instructional videos.
How Augmented Reality Can Improve User Experience
Augmented reality has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with websites and greatly improve user experience. By allowing users to engage with virtual elements in the real world, it can provide a more immersive and interactive experience for users.
Ultimately, it is important to note that the integration of AR into websites requires careful consideration and planning in order to ensure that its use is beneficial for both the business and users. With the right strategy and implementation, augmented reality can be a powerful tool for improving website user experience.
Augmented reality has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with websites and the world around us. As AR technology continues to advance, it is likely that we will see more and more websites incorporating AR into their UX.