Vuforia Unity: experience Augmented Reality

Vuforia Unity is a software development kit (SDK) for mobile devices that enables the creation of augmented reality (AR) applications. This system helps in the development of augmented reality applications so anyone who aims at becoming an AR specialist should know about it.

Would you like to know more about this method for programming and developing Augmented Reality applications? We’re going to see exactly how this SDK method works, how it is related to the Unity game engine, what its possibilities are and the kind of augmented reality experiences that have been created using it.

 

How does Vuforia Unity work?

Vuforia Unity recognizes and tracks flat images and 3D objects in real time through the use of a specific AI-enabled vision technology. Thanks to this capability, developers are able to locate and orient virtual objects (3D models) in the real world when viewed through a smartphone camera.

At the same time, this virtually-generated model tracks the location or object’s position and orientation so that the viewer’s perspective coincides with it. In this way, it gives the impression that the virtual object is embedded in a real world scene.

Vuforia provides application programming interfaces in C++, Java, Objective-C++, and .NET languages, all through the Unity game engine. 

One of the great advantages of Vuforia Unity is that this SDK supports a wide variety of objects, both 2D or 3D, as well as having the ability to set references which act as markers that are fully addressable. In addition to this, this Unity AR app development system allows programmers:

• Freedom to locate devices in spaces
• Localized occlusion detection using “virtual buttons”
• Image Target Selection at Runtime
• Ability to programmatically create and configure goal settings during the application’s runtime.

More and more developers are turning to Vuforia for augmented reality app development captivated by its AI-enabled vision, performance, and cross-platform compatibility.

Additionally, this SDK supports native development for iOS and Android, while also enabling AR app development in Unity that is easily portable across all kinds of platforms.

Vuforia Unity Features

Vuforia offers the following basic features:

• Text Recognition.
• Image Recognition.
• Tracking: targets set thanks to this SDK are not lost even when mobile devices change their location.
• Simultaneous detection and tracking.
• Quick detection of targets and defined objectives.

Thanks to these unique features, Vuforia has become one of the most popular augmented reality SDKs among developers and programmers.

The advantages of using Vuforia

• Apps designed using Vuforia have access to local and cloud-based databases.
• It provides support for virtual reality devices
• Test examples of Vuforia capabilities are included as part of this SDK 
• It contains many specific instructions and short tips.

Although it presents significant advantages, it is also necessary to point out that this SDK is not recommended for people who are learning to program Augmented Reality or using Vuforia for the first time.

 

Augmented reality experiences developed using Vuforia

Vuforia Unity is one of the most popular SDKs used by augmented reality developers. There are many instances of its successful use, both as part of game design efforts as well as for specific marketing experiences or actions.

Augmented reality built based on Vuforia in Unity presents many practical applications. Discover some of them.

Next, we are going to see some of the examples of experiences and practical use cases of this SDK that have been able to provide users with unique augmented reality experiences, both for them and for the companies behind their implementation.

Lego

Through some of the features included in Vuforia, Lego was able to create an AR application that connected its physical toys, series, and comics with a video game that was built for this specific purpose.

As such, users were able to transfer certain real-life characteristics to be transformed into objects and benefits within the ‘Lego: Nexo Knights’ video game.

Infinity

Infiniti was able to improve their cars’ buying experience thanks to the use of applications developed using Vuforia. Through an augmented reality app that is part of an optimized purchase experience, customers are able to visualize the complex technology inside vehicles.

At the same time, the use of augmented reality had additional advantages for the company, including the shortening of their sales cycle, as well as considerable economical savings, thanks to being able to display the full potential of their cars at fairs without having to open or dismantle them.

Mercedes Benz

Thanks to the use of an augmented reality app, Mercedes also improved the experience for its customers. With the app designed in Vuforia, they were able to display contextualized information that was of interest for their potential customers.

Furthermore, thanks to the use of this technology, they have been able to further enhance the value of their brand.

 

Get trained as an augmented reality programmer!

Want to learn how to use Vuforia Unity? Are you interested in learning to program applications for Augmented Reality? As you have seen, this represents a field with a lot of potential and opportunities to be explored, which can be made the most of through quality specialized training.

With our Master in Video Game Programming and Virtual Reality at Tokyo School, you will learn everything you need to know about Augmented Reality and the development of virtual reality games and applications, as well as the ins and outs of programming and creating applications and video games using Unity.

Do not hesitate! Take the next step and get in touch with us now. Fill out the form below to request more information. We can’t wait to meet you!