Augmented reality application for virtual glasses try-on

Abstract

Augmented Reality (AR) technology, is a technology that overlays computer-generated images onto real-world images on physical electronic devices, has emerged as a revolutionary tool offering enhanced user experiences and information delivery. This paper explores AR application development on the iOS mobile platform, with a focus on Apple’s ARKit – a well established AR tool. The primary objective is to construct a mobile augmented reality application, specifically tailored for glasses preview. This paper seeks to consider whether AR technologies are accurate and simple enough to use as a new form of shopping for eyewear, for both consumers and merchants. This project reveals that AR technologies can significantly improve the user experience of choosing spectacles to purchase, with significant real-world accuracy. By leveraging Augmented Reality (AR), we were able to provide a seamless experience for customers to try a wide selection of eyewear through the comfort of their homes. Furthermore, store assistants in spectacle stores can have their workloads lightened, and now only have to maintain a digital repository of spectacles through a simple to use interface. As e-commerce trends are shifting towards social-media applications and influencer-based marketing, the implications of such AR technology spectacles are significant. Such technologies could incentivise eyewear retailers to take on a larger online presence and expose them to new channels of sales, such as online social-media shops (eg. Tiktok, Instagram stores).