Understanding WebAR
WebAR is a term combining “Web” with the abbreviation for Augmented Reality (AR). This technology allows users to view augmented reality content through a web page, using a mobile device’s camera via a browser such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge. With WebAR, there’s no need to download an app to experience augmented reality. Users can simply open a web link and interact with augmented content through their phone’s camera, overlaying images onto physical surfaces like magazines or tables.
WebAR is particularly useful for marketing campaigns associated with specific products, gamification dynamics for brand engagement, displaying e-commerce product catalogs in a realistic way, or even more complex tasks like training in various fields.
Why Is It Important That No Mobile App Download Is Required?
The key advantage of WebAR is that it eliminates the need for a dedicated mobile app. Here’s why this is a game-changer:
- Standardized Communication Channel Traditionally, every company that developed AR experiences for clients required a specific app for users to download. Now, with WebAR, users can access all AR experiences through their phone’s web browser, creating a standardized and unified way to experience augmented reality. Whether the user is on Android or iOS, the experience remains the same, breaking the barrier between platforms.
- Ease of Access Since there’s no need to install an app, users can quickly access the AR content without any extra steps. Most people already have web browsers installed on their devices, so interacting with AR becomes much simpler. This reduces the friction for users, making the technology more accessible and easier to use for the average person.
- User Convenience WebAR makes life easier for users, as they no longer need to search for, download, and store multiple apps on their devices. This saves storage space and avoids unnecessary data usage, which is especially important for users with limited data plans. Simplifying the user experience is crucial for ensuring that AR content reaches a larger audience and has a greater impact, particularly in marketing campaigns.
- Simplicity in Sharing and Promotion Sharing WebAR experiences is now easier than ever. Users can share WebAR links across social media or messaging apps like WhatsApp, and companies can embed these links on their corporate websites, catalogs, or product pages, making it easier for customers to access the content with a single click.
How to Create and Share WebAR with Onirix
Onirix has streamlined the process of creating and sharing WebAR content. Their platform allows anyone, regardless of technical skill, to create and share augmented reality experiences in just a few minutes. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Create an Account: Sign up at Onirix Studio.
- Start a New Project: Select an image-based marker and choose the image that will trigger the AR experience. For more information on image quality, visit Onirix documentation.
- Add AR Content: Place the AR elements you want to display over the image, such as videos, 3D models, or labels.
- Add Interactivity: You can add interaction through events, such as actions triggered by user clicks. Learn more about this in Onirix’s event documentation.
- Share Your Project: Publish the project and generate a QR code and a web link. Users can scan the QR code to access the AR experience or use the link directly through their web browser.
- Customize the Experience: Before sharing, you can add a preview image and description to personalize how the experience is presented.
- Share Your Creation: Send your WebAR experience via email, social media, or WhatsApp. Don’t forget to share the marker image so your audience can view the AR content through it.
With WebAR, creating immersive experiences has never been easier or more accessible.