What does Mesh do in Augmented Reality?

Mesh plays a crucial role in the world of augmented reality (AR), serving as the foundation for creating immersive and interactive experiences. In AR, mesh refers to a digital representation of the physical environment or objects that are being augmented. It is essentially a collection of interconnected points, lines, and polygons that form a 3D model.

https://outsourceit.today/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MeshDecimation.mp4

By understanding the spatial layout of the real world, AR devices can accurately overlay virtual content onto the user’s view, creating a seamless blend of the physical and digital realms. Mesh enables the device to map the surroundings, detect surfaces, and track movement, allowing virtual objects to appear realistic and accurately anchored in the environment. This technology enables AR applications to recognize and interact with physical objects, measure distances, and create interactive experiences that adapt to the real world in real-time. Understanding the role of Mesh in augmented reality is fundamental to appreciating the potential and capabilities of this exciting technology.

⭐ Understanding Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that blends digital content with the real world. It enhances our perception of reality by overlaying computer-generated images, videos, or 3D models onto our physical environment. This immersive experience can be achieved through various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smart glasses, or headsets.

AR works by analyzing the user’s surroundings and superimposing virtual elements onto it in real-time. To accomplish this, AR relies on several key components, one of which is the Mesh.

What is the Mesh?

Mesh technology in the context of Augmented Reality refers to a digital representation of the physical world. It is a 3D model that captures the shape, texture, and geometry of the objects and surfaces in the real environment. The mesh acts as a spatial understanding map, allowing virtual content to interact realistically with the physical world.

How does the Mesh work?

Mesh work

The creation of the mesh involves using advanced computer vision techniques and depth sensing technologies. Devices equipped with depth sensors, such as LiDAR scanners or structured light systems, capture the depth information of the surroundings. This data is then processed to generate a detailed mesh representation.

The mesh helps AR applications understand the environment and enables accurate placement and tracking of virtual objects. By aligning the virtual content with the real-world geometry, the mesh ensures that virtual objects appear solid, stable, and correctly positioned within the user’s view.

⭐ Benefits of the Mesh in Augmented Reality

The Mesh plays a crucial role in enhancing the realism and interactivity of AR experiences. Here are some key benefits of the mesh in Augmented Reality:

  • Realistic Interaction: With the mesh, virtual objects can interact with the physical world, responding to occlusion, lighting, and physics.
  • Accurate Object Placement: The Mesh helps anchor virtual objects in the correct position and orientation within the real environment.
  • Spatial Understanding: By mapping the surroundings, the Mesh allows AR applications to understand and navigate the physical space effectively.
  • Improved Visual Quality: The mesh’s detailed representation enables realistic rendering of virtual content, resulting in visually immersive experiences.

In conclusion, the Mesh in Augmented Reality is the digital bridge that connects the virtual and physical worlds. Through its spatial understanding capabilities, the mesh enhances the realism and interaction of AR experiences, creating a seamless integration of the digital and real realms.

⚡ The Role of Mesh in Augmented Reality

Mesh plays a crucial role in enhancing the immersive experience of augmented reality (AR). It enables the integration of digital content onto the physical world, allowing users to interact with virtual objects seamlessly. Here’s a breakdown of the key aspects of mesh in AR:

1. Spatial Mapping

Mesh is responsible for spatial mapping, which involves creating a detailed 3D representation of the user’s environment. By scanning the surroundings, mesh algorithms construct a digital mesh model that accurately represents the physical world. This allows AR applications to understand the geometry and layout of the real-world space, enabling virtual objects to be anchored and interact realistically.

2. Object Placement

With the help of mesh, AR applications can accurately place virtual objects within the user’s environment. By aligning the virtual content with the captured mesh data, AR experiences become more believable and interactive. Whether it’s placing a virtual furniture piece in your living room or a game character on your tabletop, mesh ensures precise object positioning for a seamless integration of the virtual and the real.

3. Occlusion

Occlusion refers to the ability of virtual objects to appear realistically hidden behind real-world objects. Mesh data enables AR devices to understand the depth and physical properties of the environment, allowing virtual content to be occluded when appropriate. This enhances the immersion and realism of AR experiences, as virtual objects interact with the user’s surroundings in a more natural and convincing way.

4. Interaction and Tracking

Mesh provides a foundation for accurate interaction and tracking within AR applications. By understanding the environment’s geometry, mesh allows for precise tracking of the user’s movements and gestures. This enables virtual objects to respond seamlessly to user input, creating a more engaging and interactive AR experience.

Benefits of Mesh in Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) has come a long way in recent years, and one of the key components that makes it all possible is mesh technology. Mesh plays a crucial role in enhancing the AR experience, providing a range of benefits that make it an essential feature of this exciting technology. Let’s take a closer look at some of the advantages of mesh in augmented reality.

1. Realistic and Immersive Experience
Mesh technology enables the creation of highly realistic and immersive virtual objects in the real world. By mapping the environment and overlaying digital content onto physical surfaces, mesh helps to seamlessly integrate virtual elements into our surroundings. This results in a more engaging and interactive AR experience, where virtual objects appear to be seamlessly integrated into the real world.

2. Accurate Object Placement
Mesh provides precise tracking and object placement, ensuring that virtual content aligns perfectly with the physical environment. This level of accuracy allows for realistic interactions between the real and virtual worlds. Whether it’s placing virtual furniture in your living room or playing an AR game that reacts to your surroundings, mesh ensures that virtual objects are seamlessly integrated into the real world, enhancing the overall experience.

3. Environmental Understanding
Mesh technology enables AR devices to understand and interpret the physical environment in real-time. By creating a 3D representation of the space, AR applications can accurately detect and interact with real-world objects. This opens up a wide range of possibilities, from measuring distances and dimensions to providing contextual information about the objects in our surroundings.

4. Enhanced Spatial Awareness
Mesh technology enhances spatial awareness by providing depth perception and object occlusion. This means that virtual objects can appear behind real-world objects, creating a more realistic and natural AR experience. For example, you can have virtual characters walking behind a table or virtual objects interacting with physical objects, adding depth and realism to the augmented environment.

In conclusion, Mesh technology plays a vital role in the world of augmented reality. Its ability to create realistic and immersive experiences, ensure accurate object placement, provide environmental understanding, and enhance spatial awareness makes AR more engaging and interactive. With continued advancements in mesh technology, the possibilities for augmented reality are truly exciting.

Challenges in Implementing Mesh in Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) has gained significant popularity in recent years, revolutionizing various industries such as gaming, education, and healthcare. One of the key components that enables AR experiences is the mesh, which refers to a digital representation of the physical environment. While mesh plays a crucial role in creating realistic and immersive AR experiences, there are several challenges that developers face when implementing it.

1. Accurate Mesh Reconstruction

One of the primary challenges in implementing mesh in AR is achieving accurate reconstruction of the physical environment. Creating a detailed and precise mesh requires sophisticated algorithms and techniques that can capture the real-world geometry, textures, and colors. Inaccurate reconstruction can lead to visual artifacts or misalignments, diminishing the overall AR experience.

2. Real-Time Processing

Another significant challenge is the need for real-time processing of the mesh data. AR applications require seamless integration of virtual content with the physical environment, which demands quick and accurate mesh processing. Real-time processing involves tasks such as mesh optimization, texture mapping, and occlusion handling. Efficient algorithms and optimization techniques are essential to ensure smooth and responsive AR experiences.

3. Variable Environmental Conditions

Implementing mesh in AR becomes more challenging due to the variability of environmental conditions. Lighting conditions, surface textures, and object occlusions can vary significantly from one environment to another. These variations can impact the accuracy of mesh reconstruction and the alignment between virtual and real-world objects. Developers need to account for these variables and adapt their algorithms to handle different environmental conditions effectively.

4. Device Limitations

The limitations of AR devices also pose challenges in implementing mesh. Mobile AR devices, for example, have limited processing power, memory, and battery life. These constraints can restrict the complexity and size of the mesh that can be handled in real-time. Developers must optimize their algorithms and techniques to ensure efficient resource utilization and deliver satisfactory AR performance on these devices.

In conclusion, implementing mesh in augmented reality presents several challenges related to accurate reconstruction, real-time processing, variable environmental conditions, and device limitations. Overcoming these challenges requires ongoing research and development in computer vision, computational geometry, and optimization techniques. By addressing these challenges, developers can unlock the full potential of mesh in creating captivating and immersive AR experiences.

Challenges
Accurate mesh reconstruction
Real-time processing
Variable environmental conditions
Device limitations

Future Possibilities with Mesh in Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) has already made significant advancements in various fields, revolutionizing the way we interact with digital content. The introduction of mesh in augmented reality opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for the technology. Let’s explore some of the exciting future prospects:

  1. Real-Time Collaboration: With mesh, users can share a common augmented reality space, allowing for real-time collaboration regardless of physical location. Imagine architects working on a virtual building project, engineers analyzing complex designs, or doctors conducting surgeries remotely. Mesh enables seamless collaboration, boosting productivity and efficiency.
  2. Spatial Mapping: Mesh offers the ability to accurately map and track the physical environment in real-time. This opens the door for enhanced navigation and location-based experiences. From indoor navigation in complex buildings to outdoor exploration with augmented information overlaid on physical landmarks, mesh empowers users to effortlessly interact with their surroundings.
  3. Persistent AR Experiences: Mesh allows AR content to persist and remain anchored in physical locations over time. This means that users can revisit specific locations and find their augmented content intact. For instance, imagine leaving virtual notes or 3D artwork at a particular place for others to discover later. Mesh helps create a more immersive and personalized experience by making AR content persistent.
  4. Enhanced Object Interaction: Mesh enables more realistic and interactive experiences by accurately understanding the 3D geometry and physics of objects in the real world. Users can virtually interact with physical objects, manipulate them, and observe realistic physics-based reactions. This has immense potential in fields such as education, design, gaming, and training simulations.
  5. Advanced Spatial Awareness: Mesh enhances the spatial awareness of AR devices, enabling them to understand and interpret the surrounding environment better. This can lead to improved object occlusion, where virtual objects realistically appear obscured by real ones. Additionally, it allows for precise localization and alignment of virtual objects in the physical world, leading to a more seamless and realistic AR experience.
  6. Expanded Application Domains: Mesh expands the application domains of augmented reality beyond entertainment and gaming. Industries like architecture, manufacturing, healthcare, and education can leverage mesh to develop innovative solutions. From interactive product design reviews to virtual medical training, the possibilities are endless.

The future of augmented reality with mesh is highly promising. As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more groundbreaking applications and experiences. Mesh brings us closer to a world where the digital and physical seamlessly merge, revolutionizing the way we interact with technology and each other.

Future Possibilities with Mesh in Augmented Reality
– Real-Time Collaboration
– Spatial Mapping
– Persistent AR Experiences
– Enhanced Object Interaction
– Advanced Spatial Awareness
– Expanded Application Domains

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mesh plays a crucial role in augmented reality (AR) by enabling the creation of realistic and interactive virtual experiences. Here’s a summary of the key points discussed in this article:

  • Mesh is a digital representation of the physical world, consisting of interconnected vertices and polygons.
  • In AR, mesh is used to map and understand the environment, allowing virtual objects to be placed and interact with real-world surfaces.
  • Mesh helps in providing accurate tracking and positioning of virtual objects, enhancing the overall AR experience.
  • By utilizing mesh, developers can create convincing virtual illusions that seamlessly blend with the real world.
  • Mesh also enables occlusion, which means virtual objects can appear to be hidden behind real objects, adding depth and realism to AR scenes.
  • Creating and updating mesh in real-time requires powerful computational algorithms and hardware capabilities.

It is important to note that Mesh is just one component of AR technology, and its effectiveness relies on other factors such as accurate tracking, lighting conditions, and the quality of the AR application itself.

In the future, as AR technology continues to advance, we can expect further improvements in mesh representation, leading to even more immersive and realistic augmented reality experiences.

Key Points:
– Mesh is a digital representation of the physical world
– It helps in mapping and understanding the environment
– Enables accurate tracking and positioning of virtual objects
– Creates convincing virtual illusions
– Enables occlusion for added depth and realism
– Requires powerful computational algorithms and hardware capabilities

Remember, mesh is the backbone of augmented reality, allowing virtual objects to seamlessly merge with the real world, and enhancing our digital interactions in ways we never thought possible. So next time you experience an amazing AR application, take a moment to appreciate the role of mesh behind the scenes.

Links:

  1. Yoon, Young-Suk, et al. “3D mesh transformation preprocessing system in the real space for augmented reality services.” ICT Express 7.1 (2021): 71-75.
  2. Zillner, Jakob, Erick Mendez, and Daniel Wagner. “Augmented reality remote collaboration with dense reconstruction.” 2018 IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality Adjunct (ISMAR-Adjunct). IEEE, 2018.

TOP 10 AR SDK for iOS & Android Development in 2023

I make the TOP-list of iOS and Android Augmented Reality SDK intended to shape your AR development (Free and Paid).

I make the TOP-list of iOS and Android Augmented Reality SDK intended to shape your AR development.

In 2022, revenue from AR mobile applications amounted to 15 497 million U.S. dollars worldwide.

statista.com

First, looking Wiki-Article: Augmented reality – Wikipedia
With the help of advanced AR technology (e.g. adding computer vision and object recognition) the information about the…en.wikipedia.org

SDK (software development kit or devkit) is typically a set of software development tools that allows the creation of applications for a certain software package, software framework, hardware platform, computer system, video game console, operating system, or similar development platform.

This AR SDK for iOS and Android that you can start using right NOW!

Free SDKPaid SDK
ARToolKit
ARKit
Flutter
EasyAR
Xzimg
NyARToolkit
Kudan
MAXST
Wikitude
Vuforia
XZIGM
AR-media


Free Augmented reality SDK:

Flutter – beautiful native apps in record time

Flutter is new Google’s mobile UI framework for crafting high-quality native experiences on iOS and Android in record time. Flutter works with existing code, is used by developers and organizations around the world, and is free and open source.

Who’s using Flutter?


ARToolKit

Available on: Android, iOS & Mac, Windows, Linux

ARToolKit is an open-source computer tracking library for creation of strong augmented reality applications that overlay virtual imagery on the real world.

License‎: ‎GNU Lesser General Public License
Original author(s)‎: ‎Hirokazu Kato


ARKit by Apple

Introducing Augmented Reality development for iOS, one of the biggest mobile platforms of today. ARKit is an SDK for software developers to create augmented reality apps and games for iPhones and iPads.

Supported platforms: iOS 11.0+


EasyAR

Available on: Android, iOS & Mac, Windows

Apps powered by EasyAR SDK 3.0



NyARToolkit

Available on: Android, iOS.

NyARToolkit for Processing is provided by LGPLv3.

Latest commit on Sep 21, 2017

NyARToolkit project is developing a vision-based AR library that based on ARToolKit. Current NyARToolkit libraries have ARToolKit Professional (ARToolKit5) APIs.


Kudan

Available on: Android, iOS & Unity

According to reviews and comparisons of efficiency, Kudan is the main rival of Vuforia and make augmented reality development very easy.


MAXST

Available on: Android, iOS & Windows, Mac

MAXST AR SDK Is the Easiest Way to Develop an AR App. Learn More. AR MANUAL. The AR Manual Is a New-concept User’s Manual at Your Fingertips.


Paid augmented reality SDK

Wikitude

Available on: Android, iOS & Unity, Smart glasses Wikitude – Get Started With The World’s Leading Cross-Platform AR SDK
An Augmented Reality engine that empowers your iOS, Android & Smart Glasses apps with Image & Object Tracking, Instant…www.wikitude.com

Supported development frameworks: Native API, JavaScript API, Unity3D, Xamarin, Titanium, Cordova.

Wikitude is a mobile augmented reality technology provider based in Salzburg, Austria. An Augmented Reality engine that empowers your iOS, Android & Smart Glasses apps with Image & Object Tracking, Instant tracking (SLAM), Geo AR.
Founded in 2008.
Developer(s)‎: ‎Wikitude GmbH

 
Free Startup Pro Pro3D Demo  Enterprise
Geo Geo Geo Geo Geo
2D Im.Recognition 2D Im.Recognition 2D Im.Recognition 2D Im.Recognition 2D Im.Recognition
3D Image Recognition 3D 3D 3D
Cloud Recognition Cloud Recognition
Multiple apps
Watermark No No No No
Free €1990 per app €2490 per app €499 per app Call

Vuforia

Available on: Android, iOS & Unity, Windows

Supported platforms: Android, iOS, UWP and Unity Editor.

Vuforia is the leading AR platform. Paid from $99/mo

Read also: Vuforia Developer library — wiki.

XZIGM

Available on: Android, iOS & Windows, WebGL

XZIMG Face Tracking engine is a product developed by XZIMG Research that addresses the Augmented Reality market.

AR-media

Available on: Android, iOS & Unity


Zappar: Augmented, Virtual & Mixed Reality Solutions

Augmented Reality adds a new feature to this evolutionary appendage totally reimagining the role of the camera on your phone when used in an app as a new remote control for the world connecting you (and your audience if you’re a business owner) to the things and places around you.

For iOS or Android or an embed component in your existing app or indeed a new standalone app

There are lots of solutions allowing you to start developing your Augmented Reality App right away.

Note: Description for SDK has been copied from their respective official website.

Calling all Architects and Engineers: 3 Steps to Tap Into Visualization with 3ds Max Tool

These 3ds Max tips for project visualization are courtesy of Arup Connect via Redshift partner ArchDaily, “the world’s most visited architecture website.” ArchDaily is dedicated to informing and inspiring architects worldwide to improve the quality of life for an estimated three billion people who will move into cities over the next 40 years.

Arup Connect is the online magazine of Arup, an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants, and technical specialists. For this article excerpt, Arup Connect interviewed Arup visualization specialist Anthony Cortez about how he uses 3ds Max, the skills visualization artists need during design and construction phases, and how augmented reality in construction is changing the face of visualization.

1. First Things First: What’s It For? 

“The strength of 3ds Max is its versatility,” Cortez says. “It’s not a one-industry tool. From film, visual effects, video games, and commercials to arch vis, people use Max for modeling, texture mapping, lighting, animation, and rendering. Architects use it to visualize models of buildings. There are game designers that use it to create game cinematics and environments; the visual effects industry uses it to create explosions and crowd simulations.

Read more on design, architecture, and gaming.

“Here at Arup we use all of that stuff that Hollywood and the game designers use, but we apply it to engineering applications. We have lighting engineers here in the office; they study how light hits surfaces and reflects off of and is absorbed by materials. We use 3ds Max to visualize how light physically behaves in real life. These days, it’s really hard to tell the difference between a photo and a rendering.

“There’s also a project that we’re working on, a new New York bridge, where we’re taking photography from various vantage points around the Hudson Valley area and camera-matching the new bridge design to the survey and photographs and create photorealistic visual impact studies, to show what designs look like so that they can move on to the next stage in the approval process.”

2. Minority Report is Here: 3ds Max and Augmented Reality. 

“Traditionally, the way we export out of 3ds Max is through renderings, still image renderings, or animations and real-time rendering game engines,” Cortez says. “But what’s also emerging is a platform called augmented reality (AR) where we’re able to take 3D objects and superimpose them onto the real world, and you’re able to interact with these 3D objects in real time, similar to what you would see in movies like Minority Report or Avatar or Ironman.

“We’ve used AR on a few projects by embedding building information models [BIM] onto site plans. When your smartphone or tablet recognizes the page, models are overlaid on top, giving you a better understanding of the site design in 3D.

“This application also works on the job site. Our engineers recently went to Montana for a project and were able to access geo-located design models and superimpose them on the landscape. The value of this is that it allows for real-time collaboration with clients by letting them preview things that the designers are proposing. This leads to better decision-making during the design process.”

(For more on the future of augmented reality, check out Meta’s augmented reality–enabled glasses.)

3. Get Your Game Up:  Design and Visualization Skills. 

“Having a good foundation of the principles of design is key,” Cortez says. “Having a good eye in regards to composition, attention to detail. Being able to understand how to interpret floor plans, elevations, and cross-sections. And also, on the visualization side, being able to understand how timing in animated objects works. Understanding the way light behaves when it interacts with physical materials, and then having a good sense of organization and optimization of these virtual scenes.

“Say you have several lights hit a surface and bounce off of it, then hit a window and go through two or three different levels of glazing of the glass so that it reflects and refracts. Some of the light goes through, some of it bounces off and hits the ceiling, etc. If all of that calculation is taking place, it could take hours to render a frame of animation. Whereas if you optimize a scene and adjust the geometry and materials settings, you can balance the time versus the quality of the render, so it wouldn’t take that long — maybe just a fraction of that time — but still have an acceptable level of quality.”

Visual Inertial Odometry – definition

Visual Inertial Odometry or VIO is estimating the 3D pose (translation + orientation) of a moving camera relative to its starting position, using visual features. It’s combining visual and inertial measurements. Alternative of technique VIO is Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM).

ARKit framework uses Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO) to accurately track the world around it.

Easy Web Augmented Reality with AR Quick Look

In this tutorial, I’ll teach you how to build an Augmented Reality quick look for your web based app.

Augmented reality is awesome and has an unrivaled potential to enrich customer experience in many verticals. However, it has a friction point in most cases: you need to persuade a potential customer to install an app first. AR Quick Look solves this problem for iOS. This is a native feature of ARKit which launches a model viewer right from the browser — that’s why we call it native Web AR. It utilises .reality or .USDZ files, the latter is a file format developed by Pixar, and allows showing objects in incredible detail, adding animations and sounds, locking their scale to 1:1 so models show the real size of an object.

Online shopping is one of the best industries that can take advantage of AR, as it can give users the possibility to see the products in 3D and in their own environments. From previewing furniture in your home with apps like IKEA Place, to experiencing newly launched cars like this Lamborghini Huracán, this technology can improve our experience as buyers. But of course, the applications of web AR extend beyond retail as well.

AR Quick Look

Built-in apps, such as Safari, Messages, Mail, News, and Notes, use Quick Look to display USDZ files of virtual objects in 3D or AR on iPhone and iPad. You can embed Quick Look views in your apps and websites to let users see incredibly detailed object renderings in a real-world surrounding with support for audio playback.

There are many advantages of using AR Quick Look: it gives you interactions like placing, moving and scaling the object, people occlusion and sharing of the model available “out of the box”. It supports vertical and horizontal planes for placing your content and even viewing face accessories. You can view a gallery of Apple’s AR Quick Look examples here, all you need to do is open the models on an iPhone or iPad to view them in AR.

For web based AR Quick Look experiences we can use USDZ, the distribution format for USD (Universal Scene Description),which is a 3D file format developed by Pixar that focuses on speed, scalability and collaboration.

In this tutorial, we will build a simple webpage that shows a sneaker in AR. Let’s start with basic things first and see how we can launch a ready-made 3D model in AR.

Preparing the 3D model

I will be using a model from Sketchfab.com but feel free to use whatever model you wish in USDZ file format. Sketchfab offers the option to download the model directly in this file format.

Adidas Originals Stan Smith by VRModelFactory

For more examples, have a look at the Quick Look Gallery.

Converting your 3D models to USDZ Files/Changing the base unit of the model

In case you already have your models in other 3D formats, you can check out this article on how you can easily convert them to USDZ using Apple’s Reality Converter. In this article you can also see in the Properties section how to edit the base unit for example from meters to centimetres. I had to do this as well for the sneaker model so that it has a real life size when viewing it in AR.

Getting started

In order to test what we are building right away on real devices, for simplicity, we will be using codepen.io:

  1. Sign up or login on Codepen
  2. Create a new pen and name it as you wish
  3. Click save, this will create a link that you can open on your device for testing. Here is how my link looks like: https://codepen.io/roxanajula/pen/poydGKx, you should have something similar.

Showing the model in AR

For basic AR Quick Look functionality, all we need to do is add the following code in the HTML file:

<div>
    <a rel="ar" href="https://roxanajula.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Adidas_Originals_Stan_Smith.usdz">
        <img src="https://roxanajula.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Adidas_Originals_Stan_Smith.jpg">
    </a>
</div>

The code above is pretty straightforward, we have the AR model inside a hyperlink tag and an image to be displayed for the model. By adding the rel="ar" attribute we tell the browser that this is an AR model so it will automatically add the AR badge in the right corner of the image and will start the AR experience directly instead of navigating to another page.

I uploaded the image and model on my personal website as you can only host assets directly on Codepen with a paid account. When you will be developing your project you can also link to your project files, like this for example: href="/assets/models/model.usdz".

Additionally, I added the following to the CSS file to fit the image nicer on the screen:

img {
  width: 100%;
}

And that’s it! You can now save it and reload the Codepen link from your device. When we tap on the image on iOS, we will be taken to the AR Quick Look view. If we tap on the image on macOS, the model will be downloaded on your machine.

Banners

Available for devices running iOS 13.3 or later

In the previous section we looked at the most basic AR Quick Look experience, but you can also add banners with Apple Pay or Custom Actions to your AR experience.

Check out this very useful webpage made by Apple for more information on integrating those features. You can enter all the customisation details you need for your banner and this webpage will generate the code for you, pretty cool!

In this section we will have a look at different styles of banners you can add but it will be up to you to define the actions your website takes in response to tapping on the banner. For more information, see this article from Apple.

The flow of your experience will look like this:

Image Source: Apple

Here are some examples of custom banners for our sneaker webpage:

Apple Pay banner with title, subtitle, price and a “Buy with  Pay” button:

  • Button types: plain (default), bookbuycheck-outdonatepay and subscribe
  • The price is optional on Apple Pay banners only from iOS 14.
<div>
  <a rel="ar" id="ar-link" href="https://roxanajula.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Adidas_Originals_Stan_Smith.usdz#applePayButtonType=buy&checkoutTitle=Adidas%20Stan%20Smith&checkoutSubtitle=Classic%20trainers&price=$80">
      <img src="https://roxanajula.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Adidas_Originals_Stan_Smith.jpg">
</div>

Find out more about how to support Apple Pay on your website here.

Custom action banner with title, subtitle, price and a “Preorder” button:

<div>
  <a rel="ar" id="ApplePay" href="https://roxanajula.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Adidas_Originals_Stan_Smith.usdz#callToAction=Preorder&checkoutTitle=Adidas%20Stan%20Smith&checkoutSubtitle=Classic%20trainers&price=$100">
      <img src="https://roxanajula.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Adidas_Originals_Stan_Smith.jpg">
  </a>
</div>

Custom large sized banner with own html:

  • You can pick between 3 height sizes: small (81 points), medium(121 points) and large(161 points). Small will be set by default if customHeight is omitted.
  • The custom HTML file must be sent over HTTPS.
  • I am hosting the custom html file on my website
<div>
  <a rel="ar" id="ApplePay" href="https://roxanajula.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Adidas_Originals_Stan_Smith.usdz#custom=https://roxanajula.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sneaker_custom.html&customHeight=large">
    <img src="https://roxanajula.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Adidas_Originals_Stan_Smith.jpg">
</div>

Content scaling

Content scaling is enabled by default but you can disable it with the following URL parameter: allowsContentScaling=0.

Share link

The share functionality will link to the model by default, but you can also specify another link with the following URL parameter: canonicalWebPageURL=https://example.com.

Detect support for AR

It is good practice to only show the AR model to the users if it’s supported, here is how you can detect if AR is supported:

const a = document.createElement("a");
if (a.relList.supports("ar")) {
  // AR is available.
}

Code Source: Viewing Augmented Reality Assets in Safari for iOS

Online shopping and AR Quick Look

Native Web AR allows adding an Apple Pay button. You can also set an action like “Add to cart” instead of offering a user to pay for an item right away. Other options include redirecting them to a messenger or displaying a completely custom banner.

This feature allows to create a seamless buying experience and increase the conversion to purchase. Surprisingly, it’s not widely adopted yet — so you have a chance to be an early adopter of a promising technology.

Essentially, it helps to make a purchase as close to retail experience as possible. With the help of AR Quick Look, you can unite possibilities of e-commerce and retail in one point of sale.

If you have an iPhone or iPad, click the link below and pick one of 3D models to see them in augmented reality right from the browser.

Bonus: Nested models

You can have a look at the Making the nested USDZ file section in this article for a step by step tutorial on how to nest together more models into one USDZ file.

Keep in mind that USDZ is still a fairly new format so you might need to check that your web server understands the model/vnd.usdz+zip MIME-type. Refer to your web server documentation on how to configure this if not already supported.

Resources

How does a Gyroscope Sensor work in my smartphone?

Gyroscope can be understood as a device that is used to maintain a reference direction or provide stability in navigation, stabilizers, etc. Similarly, a gyroscope or a Gyro sensor is present in your smartphone to sense angular rotational velocity and acceleration. Simply put, all those mobile games, we are able to play using motion sense in our phones, tablets, etc, is due to a Gyroscope Sense. Similarly, it is required in a smartphone to be able to watch 360-degree videos or photos. The photo or the video moves, when we move our phone due to the presence of Gyroscope.

Types of Gyroscope Sensors

Gyroscope sensors are of different kinds and types and have different performance and sizes.

Image Source – EPSON

Applications of Gyroscope in Smartphone

  • Motion-sensing GUI

Gyroscope in a smartphone provides a GUI that enables a user to select menus etc by tilting the phone. One can deflect the phone slightly to go up and down the contact list. It enables a smartphone to trigger preset commands basis different motions. For instance, one can shake the phone to lock it.

  • Answer phone/open website

A Gyro sensor in your phone provides the ability to answer your phone, or open a website by present commands such as rotating, gently shaking the phone 2 to 3 times, etc.

  • Image stabilization

Image stabilization is one of the applications of a Gyroscope in your smartphone and it prevents the trembling of the hand from affecting the quality of the image. It enables the phone to record the actions, during the pressing of the shutter, in order to help catch more clear photos. It eliminates the effect of vibrations on both photos and videos.

  • GPS-inertial navigation

In case of a lost service or network, in tunnels or underground roads, the GPS continues to help navigate the car with the help of Gyroscope.

  • Motion-sensing control game

Apple with its iPhone 4 launch made Gyroscope the core of motion gaming. It enables the developer to control the game via the detection of action. It enables you to use your phone as a steering wheel while driving a car in a game, or a jet, etc. The game replicates the moments you do with your phone and hence controls games with a motion sense.

Image Source – SEIKO EPSON

Implementations of Gyroscope Sensor in a Mobile App

  • As discussed earlier, a Gyroscope Sensor can enable a number of actions to take place basis different set of motions done by a user, such as shaking the phone to undo written content.
  • Gyroscope sensor is responsible for the autorotation of the screen and view on the screen whenever a phone is rotated.
  • One of the biggest implementations of a Gyroscope is that it enables smooth rotations and execution of multiple commands in games by 3D motions.
  • Gyroscope is capable of providing precision motion inside the App functionality. This allows the user to execute majority of the tasks with the motion of the device itself.
  • Gyroscope captures a 6-dimensional angular motion. This simply means, the mobile apps that are developed using Gyroscope sensor are much likely to provide an alluring user experience than the one without the sensor.

Applications in a smartphone with a Gyroscope Sensor

Most applications in a smartphone today, work best when there is a Gyroscope sensor in the phone. For instance, the recently popular Pokemon Go game showed how Augmented Reality (AR) adds to the experience of gaming, however, what’s interesting is, AR won’t be possible without a Gyro sensor. If your phone doesn’t have a good Gyro Sensor, the same can be enabled using GyroEmu Xposed module in any Android phone.

Android Apps that make the best use of a Gyro Sensor

BEST 5 Android Apps that make the best use of a Gyroscope Sensor:

iPhone Apps that make the best use of a Gyro Sensor

TOP 3 iPhone Apps that make the best use of a Gyroscope Sensor

More and more apps are coming every day using Gyro sensors creatively. However, a lot of innovation is being done in the space of Augmented Ready with Gyroscope in smartphones. We are excited to see what comes up!

Best Smartphones with a Gyro Sensor

With the Gyro sensor being an inevitable part of every smartphone today, following are some of the best smartphones you can get, with a Gyroscope sensor.

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