BWild |
February 25, 2013
Metaio makes a breakthrough in augmented reality
Metaio, a pioneer of augmented reality technology, has long held a focus on software for mobile devices. The company specializes in augmented reality and has produced many of the world’s most acclaimed AR applications, with an emphasis on showing off the capabilities of the technology. Metaio is now looking to expand into the realm of hardware as it works to ensure that mobile devices can live up to the demands of augmented reality.
AR Engine to expand the capabilities of interactive technology
Metaio has partnered with ST-Ericsson to develop a new hardware chipset called AR Engine. This is the first time Metaio has developed hardware for the purpose of augmented reality and the company believes that it will help expand the capabilities of the technology significantly. The AR Engine is designed to be implemented into a new generation of smartphones and tablets and the entirety of its processing power will be devoted to augmented reality. This means significant improvements in the speed and performance of the technology.
Large-scale augmented reality experiences possible through new chipset
The chipsets exclusive focus on augmented reality will make AR applications run more smoothly on mobile devices. It will also boost performance, allowing for large-scale augmented reality experience, which Metaio suggests could encompass an entire city. The AR Engine also includes improvements to power consumption for particular mobile devices, allowing for “all day” augmented reality capabilities. Metaio CTO Peter Meier suggests that the AR Engine will do for the technology what the GPU did for the game industry several years ago.
AR Engine help realize Augmented City concept
In 2011, Metaio introduced the concept of the Augmented City, the idea of an environment that is completely powered by augmented reality. The firm demonstrated this concept at conferences all over the world, showing how augmented reality could be used as more than just entertainment and navigation. With the AR Engine, Metaio believes that it could move one step closer to making the Augmented City concept a reality.
BWild |
February 23, 2013
Intela study shows mobile commerce is seeing strong acceptance among consumers
Consumers in the United Kingdom are becoming more comfortable with the prospect of purchasing goods with their mobile devices, according to new research from Intela, a leading performance marketing firm. The UK is one of the most auspicious markets for mobile commerce in the world, with many telecommunications companies and financial services firms working to engage mobile consumers in more dynamic ways. Retailers throughout the country have been embracing mobile payments, adding momentum to the growth of mobile commerce and helping make consumers more comfortable with participating in mobile commerce.
More than 50% of UK mobile consumers eager to make mobile payments
According to Intela, more than half of the UK’s mobile consumers are now comfortable with making mobile payments of $15 or more. The firm notes that the initial growth that mobile commerce had seen in the UK was due to the “iTunes effect,” the trend that saw consumers purchasing music and applications through their mobile devices. This trend helped consumers understand how mobile payments worked, and now these people are beginning to make purchases through platforms outside of iTunes as their options become more varied.
Investments in mobile commerce are growing
Intela notes that investments in mobile commerce coming from UK businesses rose significantly in 2012. Many of the businesses adopting mobile commerce have adopted a strong focus on educating consumers on how to participate in mobile payments. The firm notes that these efforts have paid off very well, with approximately 40% of UK consumers claiming they have a better understanding of how mobile commerce platforms work. Moreover, these consumers are very likely to make mobile purchases in the future for products they are interested in.
US consumers also show comfort with mobile payments
Intela’s study is not focused solely on the United Kingdom. The firm found that U.S. consumers are also growing more comfortable with the concept of mobile commerce. According to Intela, 56% of U.S. consumers are happy to spend more than $10 on mobile purchases. Nearly one in two of these consumers are very comfortable with mobile commerce platforms and how these platforms operate.
