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There are two main types of augmented reality (AR): marker-based and marker less. They both do pretty much the same thing – show augmented reality. Today we’re going to talk about the marker-based AR technology, its features, main uses, benefits, and limitations. So, let’s dive into detail right away.
A Few Words about Marker-Based Augmented Reality
Have you ever thought about what allows various mobile apps recognize images, faces, and objects? What is there embedded in the system that makes it possible for an app to estimate the position of a camera with respect to the real-world frame and identify a wide range of objects with high precision? It’s a special form of tracking technique that captures and recognizes various markers characteristic of a certain object. This technique is referred to as market-based augmented reality.
This technology is relatively young. It was first introduced some ten years ago and immediately made a splash in the world of technological advancements. Now marker-based AR is widely utilized to create eye-catching mobile business apps, AR games, etc.
There are some good AR services and companies that can quickly develop an AR app for your business or educational needs. Professional AR app developers will help you choose the proper type of AR and content to put into it. As a result, you get an app that will be fun, fresh, easy-to-use, and, hopefully, profitable.
What is a Marker?
A marker can be anything, as long as it has enough unique visual points, which allows identifying optical squares that constitute markers and then decode them. Once you scan a proper image with an AR app installed on your smartphone, it will be transformed into a grayscale image, which will be subsequently used to superimpose the augmented virtual object on its physical-world counterpart.
This all wouldn’t be possible without the image processing algorithm that comes into play once you capture your image or object. The algorithm then starts decoding the image using the specific marker ID to augment the virtual object. By focusing the camera of your mobile device, the application retrieves the information stored to display the 3D virtual object accurately.
Images with lots of corners and edges work especially well. Typical examples include logos, posters, brochures, objects, and QR codes, of course. Often a product itself such as a drink can, bottle, or even machinery can be recognized as a marker.
As it has already been noted, the main requirement is that every marker be unique. It’s not enough to put the same image and change the title on it so it shows different content. You do need a new graphic for every single piece of content you’d like to present.
Common Uses of Marker-Based AR
If your activities are dedicated to a particular place or object, for example packaging activation or exclusive content for a magazine or in-store promo, marker-based AR is a proper solution.
System places content above the marker and positions it accordingly. The marker could be covered by the content partially or completely. The marker, like a mural, can be brought to life with 2D animations overlay on some of its parts and transparency on unanimated parts. A seamless feeling of moving 3D art on the wall evokes the fascinating emotions.
The marker can also serve as a launcher, which can be used for spawning the 360 scene and thus provide a user with a more immersive experience.
You can place different types of content in your marker-based AR. It can be text, image, video, audio, 2D animation, 3d objects or complex 3D scenes, game mechanics, and even all of those together. Besides, it’s a great tool for education, too.
