Major applications of AR in outdoor settings
Outdoor retail marketing and advertising
AR-enabled billboards, powered by AI, drive customers directly to stores and the shelves. This interactive experience provides more product demonstrations, exclusive games, promotional offers, and rewards. The AI integration makes it more realistic and visually appealing and enhances the user experience by personalizing the content based on individual preferences.
For example, Jordan, introduced by the shoe brand Nike, released an augmented reality experience called World of Flight. To make shopping more prominent and give visitors a cultural experience in Beijing Sanlitun, visitors could interact through digital elements like iconic sneakers, basketball-themed visuals, and much more. The interactive experience of colorful challenges popping out makes it immersive. With many scannable hoodies popped, the digital elements can be scanned for a fun picture session.
Source: Kivisense YT
Brands are introducing AR kiosks in malls and parks. These kiosks allow users to experience immersive storytelling and 3D product visualization. Moreover, customers can now preview life-sized virtual products to realistically check their size and quantity.
Shanghai is a popular tourist destination. To embrace the future with AR innovation, Livat Shanghai is soon opening its doors to AR experiences. Since everyone craves extraordinary experiences, the augmentation authorized by Ingka at the heart of Innovation Hub is sustainable and has tech-savvy features. Colorful flowers popping out with explanations about multiple plants give a lifelike preview to all who want a smartphone preview.
AR for store opening
Many top brands have been instilling augmentation for an immersive customer experience. Since new businesses are stepping in, it has become rather tough to understand how to attract customers for sales. That’s where the augmentation comes in. Introducing Snapchat filters with colorful brand-endorsed effects makes it easy for the incoming user to understand the idea behind the business. Besides that, augmentation-enhanced invitations and gamified experiences are other ways of getting customer attention.
AR in travel and tourism
From AR navigation to historical overlays with digital elements, the augmentation in travel and tourism provides 360-degree panoramas for immersive previews. Through AR-enabled guides, users can easily understand the history and culture of any layout with educational games.
The trend of old 2D maps is long gone. The new AR-enhanced maps enable virtual arrows and markers for a better wayfinding experience. The apps are updated for each route, making finding directions in unfamiliar locations easier. The landmark recognition highlights also help users orient themselves in the real-world environment.
Travelers and tourists are in for an experience with historical constructions. However, the information provided does not completely depict the history of the construction or give a glimpse of what it looked like. With AR overlays and reconstructed visuals, folklore and myths come to life through digital elements for deeper engagement.
For example, the exclusive tribute to Yayoi Kusama’s work, Flowers, is a creative and engaging highlight for travelers and tourists alike. This exception brings many together through colorful flowers popping up after previewing from the screen. This is a moniker for Yayoi Kusama, the renowned Japanese artist famous for her iconic use of polka dots in various art forms. Her work is often celebrated for its whimsical, immersive, and boundary-pushing nature.
AR-powered outdoor games
The market value of AR outdoor games is expected to be 141.7 billion USD by 2033, growing at an annual rate of 25.9%. With a whopping increase in the compound annual growth rate (CAGR), many brands are expanding their outdoor games market. Since mobile users are interested in AR games, technological advancements are making them affordable. Pokemon Go was an incredibly popular outdoor AR game that captivated audiences of all ages.
The real world, integrated with the overlay of digital gaming elements, marks a way of social connectivity. With many coming on board for exploration and exercise, the motivation is taking hits globally. Anyone with a phone can select their 3D characters and challenges and win rewards.
AR pop-ups during outdoor events (concerts, sports events)
AR adds dramatic visuals, like holograms of performers, floating lyrics, or thematic animations synced to the music. Fans scan merchandise to unlock AR content or redeem concert souvenirs virtually. Mass AR games or challenges displayed on attendee devices create an engaging, communal atmosphere.
Many users are attracted to using AR to view enhanced player profiles and stats or replay key moments in real-time. Mini-games, like virtual penalty shootouts or trivia contests, engage users during halftime or breaks. AR pop-ups display milestones like record-breaking plays or celebratory animations after scores.
Source: The FWA
Regarding festivals and public gatherings, augmentation can transport attendees into thematic storylines, like exploring virtual worlds tied to festival themes. It also showcases virtual photo booths where attendees can pose with AR props or characters.
Outdoor learning and education with AR
In many ways, technology has made learning and the educational experience more forthgoing. For someone who has commitment issues regarding exploring outdoors and becomes restricted to one region of their lounge, augmentation makes learning accessible. The idea behind augmentation was initially to provoke the imagination. Technological advancements have made it more of a learner’s step to open vast new possibilities.
For example, an augmented reality collaboration between tech giant Xiaomi and automotive giant Volkswagen advanced by showcasing premium features. This campaign allowed users to explore interior and exterior details and infotainment systems, stimulating the rush drive. Not only did it allow customers to interact with the car in a futuristic way, but the automotive innovation showed technological prowess.
Benefits of augmented reality in outdoor experiences
Enhances engagement with physical environments.
For many brands, getting the user’s attention is a top priority. The current generations are more eager to learn about the product through real-time visualization. AR just steps up the game for all brands ready to take the world by storm. This entity outsmarts all other types of marketing and enhances engagement with physical environments. Through increased viewer engagement, billboards, and outdoor activities through augmentation, everything becomes a prime example of how things should be done.
Provides unique, interactive learning experiences.
Out-of-home advertising (OOH) is an enhanced preview of physical advertisements in public spaces. Static ads have become immersive tools for knowledge-sharing and appeal to audiences of all ages. This impacts the idealogy behind the demonstration of complex ideas. From educational content to environmental visuals, the effects of OOH through AR help in virtual experiments and career explorations.
Creates opportunities for brands to connect with audiences in real-world settings
The growing market demands growing attention to detail. This marks a significant technological approach for many who want to understand the brand before purchasing. By building connections through trust innovatively reflected through the preview, the audience can easily settle in and mark a substantial increase in user adoption. Besides, it’s much more attractive than traditional marketing and grabs attention faster since everyone uses phones now.
What does the future of AR outdoor adventures hold?
Given the long-standing relationship between technology and physical activities, it’s clear that advancements in AR outdoor adventures are far from over. The future promises even more growth and innovation, reshaping the industry and offering exciting, history-rich, and digital experiences that will leave travelers excited and optimistic.
For a more redefined experience, many people are seeking engaging, history-rich, yet digital experiences. With its role in creating these experiences through AR-enabled maps and pre-travel exploration, augmented reality is poised to change the game. The prospect of preserving heritage sites and offering AI-driven simulations in user-preferred languages is sure to leave the audience feeling intrigued and eager for more.
Conclusion
As technology evolves, outdoor exploration will be more accessible, educational, and enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities. From enhanced navigation and interactive learning to immersive gaming experiences, AR will shape how we connect with nature, encouraging deeper engagement and fostering a greater sense of environmental stewardship.
Kivisense is one of the few successful companies worldwide to make up for the integration of AR in fashion try-ons, eyewear, accessories, and many more. With the industry growing wider, the promises are becoming stronger as we bring a unique try-on experience for all to explore.
