Visarby

Explore the world through fun with AR

Visarby took up the challenge and launched a real-world AR content presentation and management system. It is a platform that makes the collected content available in the form of a library of routes, maps and attractions in a given area. The unique function of the application is the involvement of the user himself in co-creation.

Solution

The solution is the VisARby platform – an innovative application that focuses on learning the world and exploring new places by playing in the AR space. The system is available for tablets, mobile phones, AR mobile glasses such as “google glass enetrprice” or “hololense” and allows for the detection of AR markers, position detection and presentation AR and mixed reality materials on a given device.

How it works?

Imagine that you went on a trip, for example, to Paris and you did not take a guide with you, but you have a mobile device with you (usually a phone, tablet, and recently very fashionable augmenter reality glasses such as “google enterprice”) . You activate our application on your device. From the library of available animations, you download an interesting route / map on which various points are marked (e.g. monuments or hidden treasures). You approach the place you are interested in, e.g. Notre Dame Cathedral and point the device’s lens at the monument. If you point the lens at a previously set marker, which is shown in the photo, an animation will appear on the map, whose task will be to show you around the selected monument. In the case of Notre Dame, for example, the Hunchback of Notre Dame will also pop up, which is associated with this place. Text and / or audio animation will show you interesting information. After reading / listening to the animation, arrows will appear on your mobile device, allowing you to move to the next part of the monument and re-read / listen to the content about this fragment of the monument, e.g. bell tower, altar, crypt or other parts of the cathedral (unlimited possibilities). There is also a built-in “route” option in the application. When choosing this option, a menu will be developed from which you can choose a route tailored to your needs, e.g. a historic route, a culinary route or a route intended for families with children.

The application also allows for a full visualization of incomplete monuments, e.g. the temple in Athens, which currently lacks some pillars and part of the ceiling.

The app also serves as a guide in the museum. After you hover the lens over the selected monument, an animation describing the given monument is displayed.

The main advantages of the platform for the user:

• Possibility to adjust the route to your individual needs using the text of your preferences
• Possibility to set additional amenities to display the attractions of the route, e.g. regarding the way of movement or certain restrictions, e.g. a route for children, with animals or for people in a wheelchair
• Sort by attraction categories
• Description of the application with the possibility of mapping a route to its destination

The main advantages of the application for the client:

• Create your own personalized content in app
• Selling your points – attractions to users
• Sort by attraction categories
• Promotion of private business or shared content

First of all, do not limit the fun

The second functionality of the application is the ability to create content by the user, and the ability to add your own animations or order such animations. This allows for the constant expansion of the map with interesting places and greater user interest. The application has a built-in simple editor that allows you to add new markers on objects and add descriptions and animations to the place. The system validates whether the markers are appropriate, e.g. whether the photo is blurry or characteristic, and whether the content is censored.

Design

The client needed a comprehensive project from us, from branding, including the application logotype, to the entire application design, taking into account the brand’s visual communication. The main purpose of the application was to quickly encourage the user to start a personalized exploration of the nearest tourist attractions. After logging in for the first time, the application encourages you to perform a quick test that will match the materials existing in the application to the user’s preferences. From the UX perspective, all the most important functions of the application are on the main screen, i.e .:

• Encourage you to take the test – if it has not been done yet
• Proposed tourist attractions – based on user preferences
• Easily accessible categories of selected categories by the user, with the ability to quickly change the currently sought attractions
• List of attractions based on the selected category
• User-saved attractions that you plan to visit
• Visited attractions with the option to share the result with friends

Technology

The system consists of the following modules:

• Server module with CMS (MR module) – for management and automatic pre-processing of MR elements. These elements are presented to the user during the use of the software. The module is necessary to present MR elements in an interactive form, ensuring sufficiently good image quality and smooth operation
• API module (AR module) – to ensure fast and trouble-free communication between the backend and devices on which MR and AR content is presented. The module is responsible for ensuring the delivery of AR elements and for managing the computing power of the server
• Interactive simulation module – allows you to manage and present interactions in AR and MR content. It collects input data from devices (voice, gestures, head movements) and translates them into commands in AR and MR interactions
• C2C module – enables communication and supports a transaction platform that allows for the sale of content and the implementation of content on request. Transactions are carried out between institutions, content creators and end users

Summary

The VisARby application is a great place for young and adults to stimulate creativity and renew interest in space through the use of AR. Users can take advantage of the library of free attractions, available after download. Users can play with each other by creating and sharing new points of attractions in unusual places and with unusual specificity.
On the other hand, it is a great tool to promote your services, e.g. a hotel, restaurant or even a museum.