Evolving technologies like Augmented Reality offer the greatest opportunity for product leaders to improve user experience and tech innovations. The main objective of this technology is to deliver functionality that allows leaders to effectively visualize and manage performance with real-time metrics. This has resulted in the launch of the ARKit framework that helps in developing and deploying AR-powered apps in the Apple Play Store.
ARKit surpasses the traditional development approach in terms of performance and popularity. The well-built ecosystem, consistent hardware, and intuitive mechanisms of ARKit make it highly desirable for product creators. Some of the incredible mechanisms that ARKit offers include scene and object recognition, location tracking, meshing, face tracking, and others. All these functionalities are difficult to leverage in the traditional AR development approach.
3 Best Practices to Understand Before Starting an ARKit Project
While the long-term benefits of using ARKit are much better recognized, there is still a significant possibility of impacting the privacy & security of applications. Due to irregularities in ARKit programming, lapse, and negligence, there is a real chance of product leaders getting into trouble while creating apps. The major issue is that no actual guideline designates what is permissible and what is not in the ARKit ecosystem. This means the kit can be used for malicious purposes just like it can be used for business purposes.
Though the ARKit framework offers core functionalities that stimulate AR experiences across multiple devices, there are certain practices to consider when creating applications. These practices offer ways to overcome challenges that product creators may face:
1. Rendering Techniques to Avoid Model Complexity
Though ARKit offers intuitive 3D models, app creators need to reduce the complexity of these models. Use rendering techniques to avoid displaying objects that are not noticeable by the camera, diminish background processes, and others. The intuitive model’s complexity is one of the key things that impact app performance. Since AR-based iOS applications necessitate the rendering of 3D visuals in real time, this can be a difficult task for some creators. That’s why it’s important to hire developers from an iPhone application development services provider.
The developers implement efficient algorithms to retain perfect frame rates and minimal display latency. By optimizing rendering pipelines, the application can display critical elements of the AR experience, and minimize loading duration.
2. Visual Markers for Accuracy
Quality monitoring is essential to determine the effectiveness of the AR application developed. Attaining consistent tracking and standardization can be challenging, especially in dynamic environments like iOS. Different mechanisms can be used to eliminate this challenge. For instance:
- Using visual markers offered by ARKit allows the iOS app to trigger AR visuals more precisely. This is one of the effective approaches for delivering seamless AR navigation, as the markers can accurately track and align virtual elements.
- The utilization of on-device computer vision APIs can also help in enhancing tracking accuracy
3. AR Apps Testing
Ensuring reliable performance and compatibility across diverse AR environments and Apple software versions is an important task for iOS programmers. However, testing AR applications can be time-intensive, as developers have to test with various physical objects, under different scenarios. Augmented Reality app development therefore requires dedicated testing strategies and Quality Control experts. Also, it’s vital to keep AR apps updated and compatible with the latest iOS operating system, device, and versions after launch.
Use Cases of ARKit Development
Outdoor AR Navigation
Though Bluetooth Beacons, GPS, and Wi-Fi RTT are the leaders in outdoor navigation, all these technologies struggle with decreased accuracy. Meaning that, these technologies get obstructed by terrain and location parameters. Augmented Reality-powered navigation can provide accurate on-screen directions in the form of visual components drawn over the real world.
Outdoor navigation established by the ARKit framework provides better positioning opportunities. The positioning technologies in ARKit help in navigating airport terminals, shopping malls, and convention centers. Experts from an experienced iPhone app development company can create AR navigation apps for stores and distribution centers to help professionals identify packages and items that they need.
Take the real-world example of MDPI, a US-based emerging wearables manufacturing company. They recently built an iOS app with outdoor spotting and tactile foot stimulation techniques. This helps in presenting information to visually challenged users. The preliminary tests show that the app was able to detect outdoor objects within a 390–450m radius under 98% precision.
Measuring Applications
Thanks to the intuitive sensors provided by the ARKit framework. These sensors can capture correct measurements of surroundings without setting a hardware mechanism. This led to the creation of Measurement applications that leverage Apple’s exclusive LiDAR scanner to provide 3D floor plans of structure interiors. This includes furniture, beams, and room dimensions.
These applications enable end-users to effectively display room images in USDZ /USD formats. The images include room objects and dimensions of the room. Subsequently, these file formats can then be exported into other software for additional processing and development. With this type of application, room scanning functions extremely fast, enabling users to generate visuals of buildings in seconds.
Fluor, an Oregon-based construction firm worked on a project building an AR-based home renovation app. This allows users to modify wall sizes and set up new furniture and other entities. They chose to create a custom algorithm with a Visual data structure to make it work as anticipated. This app is currently servicing around 330 clients for carving up any surface digitally and providing suggestions.
Face-Scanning Applications
A key strength of ARKit over traditional frameworks is hardware stability and compatibility. The latest camera resolution of the iPhone has been capable of delivering steady quality in face-based Augmented Reality. Just like other categories of AR, the ARKit framework involves tracking, scene recognition, and visual rendering.
ARKit processes information to result in monitoring, face mesh, and combined shapes. Monitoring information gives end-users a better sense of how to render content when the subject changes its stature. Face-based AR applications are used for face filters and masks to enhance user experience and engagement. Another popular development option for enterprises that prioritize user experience is virtual try-on solutions. Developers from a reputable iPhone application development firm can build virtual try-on apps for iOS systems.
The Future of ARKit
ARKit is successfully making Augmented Intelligence more accessible to a wider user base. By rolling out many new AR capabilities directly into the iOS ecosystem, Apple is actively extending AR experiences to millions of audiences worldwide. This approachability has encouraged business leaders to build a range of AR apps, community for iPhone, and capabilities. Thereby, fostering growth and innovation in the AR sector.
Some of the expected feature enhancements in the ARKit framework include:
- Augmented Immersion (Realism) – The ARKit community is determined to upgrade immersion and realism in AR initiatives. With progressive camera mechanisms, tracking, and computer vision algorithms, ARKit allows digital objects to combine impeccably with the real world. This improved realism is expected to deliver 90% more appealing and compelling AR interfaces.
- Improved Object Tracking and Recognition – ARKit is taking significant strides in improving object monitoring and recognition. Apps can sense and monitor real-world entities, planes, and even people with better precision. This capability unlocks several opportunities for shared AR experiences, from setting virtual objects on certain surfaces to supporting precise interactions with physical entities.
- Shared AR Capabilities – ARKit allows multiple end-users to interrelate and collaborate in the same digital ecosystem. This functionality modernizes social communication, gaming, and coordination by allowing people to open a common AR space and be involved in shared experiences. Moreover, business leaders can gain the potential to transform industries such as social media, virtual collaboration, and remote events.
Closing Thoughts
With the upcoming functionalities explained above, the ARKit framework holds tremendous potential for digital product owners. By using this framework, leaders may be able to take advantage of exceptional native features and reduce development time. Building the same AR-based iOS app with native code will be typically expensive, but when more power functionalities are needed, ARKit may be cost-effective in the long run.
