(POLL) Mobile Augmented Reality, Gimmick or Useful Tool? PLEASE RT!
Mobile augmented reality (AR) apps get a ton of press. There seems to be a love affair with them. And while we definitely believe that mobile AR will be absolutely gigantic one day, we think the current fascination is premature. Sure mobile AR seems amazing on the surface, when you first read about it or see it, but over time we don’t think it provides the every day utility/experience it currently promises. I mean, are you continually using an AR app over competitive services (e.g. google maps)? That said, we’ve been wrong before, so we thought we would set up a little informal poll to see if people are actually using Mobile AR applications (repeatedly, not just reading about them in the trades and thinking they sound cool), or if they are just checking them out because of the novelty (and their ability to impress one’s colleagues)… a one and done type scenario.
Now, let’s be clear about what I mean when I say “Mobile AR”. I mean these applications that layer information on top of your smartphone’s video screen. They use your phone’s GPS and Compass to (allegedly) tell you what direction the nearest McDonalds is, or the like. Yelp’s Monacle would be a good example.
Please fill out the poll below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to get some dialogue going on this issue (or you can hit me up on twitter https://twitter.com/jack_benoff).