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How interactive, real-time AR could change the future of video calling

What happened?

When most people think of augmented reality, they think of the popular game Pokémon Go. While that app has brought AR into the mainstream, there is so much more potential for the technology than just catching digital creatures in the real world. The applications of AR stretch far and wide and at the center of all possibilities is increasing emotional connections. Whether it’s a first date over video call or a family game night, AR can transform those experiences into something new and deeply meaningful. It can also help break down barriers in social anxiety, creating deeper emotional connections to help make users feel more comfortable and boost confidence. Through dynamic, reactive AR experiences we can redefine how we connect and communicate with others. 

Link to article: https://bit.ly/3C0Zn0P

Why is this important?

For many, video calls have become a familiar, if not constant, part of our daily work and personal lives. Whether it’s a virtual happy hour with friends from around the country or a family check-in, there’s a good chance those interactions are happening over a video call. Early in the pandemic when we became more reliant on video calling to power our social interactions, we recognized the opportunity to re-imagine the experience and make it better, changing the way people use video calls across a variety of contexts. If you could see the person you were talking to on the other end of the call, wouldn't that be so much better? You would be able to see their facial expressions and read their body language. That's what interactive, real-time Augmented Reality (AR) promises to do for video calling. It could soon make those 'face-to-face' conversations feel a lot more like being in the same room. Imagine how much more productive your business meetings could be if you could actually see and almost feel each other! Video calling has become an integral part of our lives, but it often leaves us wishing for more of the connection we get when we spend quality time with people in the same physical location. Real-time AR can help bridge that gap, and while nothing can replace getting together in person, we can help people feel close, making it as connective of an experience as possible.