WebAR, An Actionable Guide
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, and take a look at the future of web technology! Have you ever heard of WebAR? If not, prepare to have your mind blown. Imagine experiencing augmented reality through your web browser without the need for any additional apps or downloads. Sound too good to be true?
Well, hold onto your hats because WebAR is here, changing the game for businesses, developers, and users alike. In this definitive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about WebAR and how to leverage its power to create unforgettable experiences for your audience. So sit back, relax, and get ready to enter the exciting world of WebAR!
What is WebAR?
WebAR (Web-based Augmented Reality) is a technology that enables augmented reality experiences to be delivered through web browsers on various devices without downloading any additional software or applications. It is a web-based version of augmented reality technology allowing users to access and interact with virtual objects and information overlaid in the real world.
WebAR uses a combination of different technologies, including WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication), WebGL (Web Graphics Library), and WebVR (Web Virtual Reality), to create interactive and immersive experiences. It enables developers to create AR experiences using standard web development tools like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
WebAR is a game-changer in the world of digital content. By incorporating interactivity into your content, you can make your message up to 80 per cent stickier in the user’s mind. This, coupled with the ability to share AR content directly from your website, offers a massive opportunity to enhance your content strategy. You don’t need to redirect the users to a third-party site; you can launch WebAR experiences from any URL you choose.
WebAR also offers a range of tracking and analytics options, allowing you to monitor various metrics such as engagement and time spent on a page. You can even get granular insights into how long a user interacted with a particular product or their clothing size if they tried something on through your experience.
However, it’s essential to exercise caution regarding data protection. With advancements in technology, collecting personal information is becoming increasingly accessible, and as digital content creators, it’s our responsibility to treat this power with respect.
What is WebAR used for?
Here are some ways in which WebAR is used:
- Marketing and Advertising: WebAR is increasingly used by marketers and advertisers to create interactive and engaging campaigns. By integrating WebAR into their websites or social media platforms, brands can offer consumers an immersive and memorable experience that helps to increase engagement and brand awareness. For example, Ikea launched an AR-powered catalogue allowing users to preview furniture in their homes before purchasing.
- E-commerce: WebAR can be used in e-commerce to enable customers to preview products in AR before purchasing. This is particularly useful for furniture, where customers can see how a piece will look in their home before committing to buy it. For example, Wayfair has developed an AR feature that allows customers to visualize how furniture will look in their homes.
- Education: WebAR can be used in education to create interactive and engaging learning experiences. For example, museums can create AR exhibits that allow visitors to see objects in a new way, or educators can create AR-enabled textbooks that bring subjects to life.
- Entertainment: WebAR is also used in the entertainment industry to create immersive experiences for audiences. For example, the band Gorillaz made an AR-powered music video that allowed viewers to interact with the characters in the video in real-time.
- Tourism: WebAR can be used in the tourism industry to create immersive visitor experiences. For example, a city could create an AR tour that allows visitors to explore landmarks and learn about the city’s history.
How do I create a WebAR experience?
Creating a WebAR experience is a multi-step process that requires careful planning, creative vision, technical expertise, and thorough testing. The following six steps provide a detailed guide on how to create a successful WebAR experience:
Planning and Creative:
The first step in creating a WebAR experience is to develop a well-rounded plan that outlines your target audience, campaign goals, and creative vision. This plan will help inform your decisions throughout development, including platform selection, asset creation, and testing. Consider factors such as the type of content you want to create, the target audience’s interests, and the specific goals you want to achieve with your WebAR experience.
Platform Selection:
Once you have a solid plan, you must choose a platform to build your WebAR experience. The two most popular platforms for building WebAR experiences are 8th Wall and Zappar. These platforms provide developers with the necessary tools and technologies for creating immersive, interactive experiences, including surface tracking, image recognition, and animation. Choose any of the platform that best fits your needs based on ease of use, pricing, and available features.
Asset Creation:
With your platform selected, you can begin creating the assets for your WebAR experience. The key to a successful WebAR expertise is finding the right balance between creative vision and technical limitations. Highly detailed 3D models and complex animations can cause web-based experiences to run slowly or fail to load altogether. To create an optimal experience, focus on creating low-poly art assets and simple, engaging animations that load quickly and run smoothly.
Assembly:
With your assets created, you can begin assembling your WebAR experience. This step involves using the tools and technologies provided by your chosen platform to build an immersive, interactive experience. While the process can be technical, many platforms offer user-friendly interfaces that make the development process easier for developers with varying levels of experience.
Testing:
Once your WebAR experience is assembled, it’s essential to thoroughly test it across different mobile platforms, web browsers, and network connections. Testing helps identify technical issues affecting the user experience, such as slow load times or inconsistent performance. Make sure to test your expertise on various devices and under different conditions to ensure optimal performance.
Distribution:
The final step in creating a WebAR experience is distributing it to your target audience. Both 8th Wall and Zappar offer hosting services and custom URL integrations that make it easy to share your experience. You can also export your experience and host it on your own servers. Share the URL with your audience via QR code or any other means to make it easy for them to access and enjoy your WebAR experience.
What is App-Based AR?
App-based AR is a type of augmented reality that requires users to download an application before accessing an immersive AR experience. This type of AR is becoming increasingly popular in various industries, including retail, gaming, education, and entertainment.
App-based AR offers advanced features such as 3D modelling, image recognition, and spatial mapping, which require the processing power of a mobile device. It uses tools with powerful objects, depth, surface, and lighting recognition to create detailed rendered environments.
For example, a retail AR app could allow customers to virtually try on clothes or see how furniture would look in their homes before purchasing. Similarly, an educational AR app could bring textbook images to life, providing students with an interactive and engaging learning experience.
How do I become a WebAR developer?
Becoming a WebAR developer involves combining web development skills with augmented reality (AR) technology knowledge. WebAR is a rapidly growing field that offers new and innovative ways to create interactive and immersive web experiences. To become a WebAR developer, you must have a solid web development foundation and a good understanding of AR technologies. You must also learn WebAR frameworks, build projects, join communities, attend events, and keep up with the latest trends and technologies. Here are some steps to becoming a WebAR developer:
- Learn the basics of web development: To become a WebAR developer, you should first learn the basics. This includes HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are the building blocks of the web. You can start by taking online courses, reading web development blogs, or practising coding exercises.
- Learn AR technologies: Augmented Reality (AR) technology overlaps digital content in the real world, typically through a camera-equipped device like a smartphone or tablet. To build WebAR experiences, you must understand the underlying AR technologies such as ARKit, ARCore, Vuforia, and Wikitude. These technologies provide the tools to detect markers, track objects, and render 3D graphics in real time.
- Choose a WebAR framework: Several WebAR frameworks are available, each with its own features and tools. A-Frame, AR.js, and three.js are popular WebAR frameworks that provide the necessary tools to build AR experiences in a web browser. A-Frame is a high-level WebAR framework that uses HTML to create 3D scenes, AR.js is a JavaScript library that supports AR marker detection and tracking, and three.js is a 3D graphics library that can be used for AR rendering.
- Practice and build projects: Make small projects and prototypes once you understand web development and AR technologies. This will help you get hands-on experience with WebAR development and improve your skills. Start with simple tasks and gradually move on to more complex ones. This will also help you understand the limitations of WebAR technology and find creative solutions to overcome them.
- Join WebAR communities: Joining WebAR communities such as the WebAR Community Group will help you stay updated with the latest trends, tools, and technologies in the WebAR field. You can ask questions, get project feedback, and connect with different developers who share your interests.
- Attend WebAR events: WebAR events and conferences, such as the Augmented World Expo (AWE), will allow you to learn from industry experts, attend workshops, and network with other WebAR developers. This can be a great way to stay informed about the latest developments in the WebAR field and meet other like-minded individuals.
In conclusion,
The way we engage with the digital world could be completely changed by WebAR, a remarkable piece of technology. With its ability to seamlessly merge the virtual and physical realms, WebAR offers endless opportunities for businesses, developers, and creatives to enhance their products and services.
As we’ve seen in this definitive guide, WebAR is accessible, flexible, and easy to use, making it a great and excellent choice for anyone looking to explore the world of augmented reality. Whether you’re building a marketing campaign, creating an immersive experience, or simply looking to add a touch of magic to your website, WebAR is the way to go.
So, don’t wait any longer — start experimenting with WebAR today and unlock a world of possibilities! With its endless potential and limitless creativity, WebAR will surely take your digital projects to the next level.
To learn more about Metaverse, make sure to follow.
My Blog — Metaverse, Web3, Marketing, Content repurposing
My LinkedIn — Get to know how to start in the Metaverse.
My Instagram — Metaverse News, Metaverse Opinions.
My Podcast — Interview with Metaverse and Web3 Leaders
