Uncategorized – Page 5

Augmented Reality for Business: Key Pillars of Innovation

What do you think of when you think about augmented reality?

More than a few people just think about something like Robocop, where Arnold Schwarzenegger’s classic character is looking for bad guys through the lens of a cybernetic dashboard.

That’s a fun way to think about augmented reality, but it’s by no means the only way.

Augmented reality is evolving in the technology sector. Generally speaking, augmented reality means that you’re adding inputs and stimuli to what you naturally see and hear, in order to enhance your decision-making process. It’s now common in automotive technology and beyond, out in the wider business world, and in medicine and transportation – the list goes on.

So what about AR in your work environment?

Here are some of the components of what we offer to help businesses benefit from augmented reality tools.

Responsive Business

Some of our augmented reality gear relies on the existing network of smartphones and mobile devices that are now so common in business process worlds. Whether it’s BYOD or a company-issued device, these AR tools work on the premise of responsive design, to bring data where it’s needed by porting it onto endpoint devices that are part of our daily lives.

Engagement and Insights

Other aspects of augmented reality are all about engagement.

These tools are designed to attract user activity, for example, from your customer base, and translate it into valuable business intelligence. For example, you might have customer location data aggregated and tracked carefully, in order to show decision-makers the results on the dashboard. That’s augmented reality of a specific type that’s going to be adding value to your business processes, and it is worth looking into.

The Promise of Gamification

This is a big word, with a very simple meaning.

Gamification in AR, and in technology as a whole, involves making technology use enjoyable in a fundamental sense. It means crafting a user experience that is easy and accessible, and building engagement that way. There are a number of ways to do this, for example, making user activity into a contest or competitive game, or adding incentives and prizes, or just simply making things more visual to attract the user’s attention.

Some experts talk about the “three cherries” rule in user experience design – the idea that by using classic gaming icons, you can transform a dry and unappetizing application into something that people want to get their hands on. That can be another part of the recipe for businesses that want to be on the vanguard of AR adoption.
Want to know more? Check out our web site, or contact us for winning AR applications that will work for your company.

Maximizing Fan Interactions: 3 Reasons Your Sports Team Needs an Online Presence

Did you realize that Americans spend over $56 billion on sporting events each year? For the owners and managers of sports teams, finding a way to maximize profits and fan engagement levels is important. Using traditional forms of advertising like print ads or billboards for your sports team will only take you so far. Reaching a wider audience with your brand message is only possible if you embrace the power of technology.

Having an app that uses gamification to engage with fans is crucial for modern sports teams. Once you have your new app developed and ready for launch, you need to unleash a full-frontal assault and advertise this product online. With the help of an online presence, you can increase the number of fans your team has and the amount of money being spent on your merchandise. Here are some reasons why having an online presence is important for your sports team.

1. An Online Presence Helps You Earn Extra Money For the Team

Visit any popular sports team’s website and you are sure to find an online store packed with branded merchandise. Most larger sports teams sell tons of merchandise each year. Driving traffic to your team’s website will require the use of some marketing savvy and hard work. The longer you invest in marketing campaigns designed to attract new fans, the higher your online store sales will ultimately get.

Using live sporting events to drive social engagement is also imperative when trying to sell more merchandise online. Hosting online contests that require participants to attend a live game is a wise move. By doing this, you can sell out your team’s stadium while driving traffic to your online store. Allowing marketing professionals to setup and implement these types of events can help you save time and money.

2. Create a Better Connection With Existing Fans

When trying to create an online presence for your sports team, be sure to keep your diehard fans in mind. You need to make sure that each digital platform you have the sports team on is optimized for fan engagement. Having a section on your website where fans can leave feedback about the team and the online presence it has is smart.

Looking at this feedback from time to time can help you figure out where changes need to be made. For instance, If you receive multiple requests from fans regarding the construction of a new app, you need to take action. Giving your fans exactly what they want will keep them loyal to your brand.

3. Put Your Teams on the Radar of Large Corporations

Landing large corporate sponsorships is something most sports team owners/managers work hard to do. If you are having trouble getting these sponsorships, take a good look at your team’s online presence. Investing in a website, app and social media marketing will allow you to get the right kind of attention from large corporations.

Start Engaging With Your Fans Today!

The first step in creating an online presence is reaching out for professional help. If you need help with your fan engagement or app development, contact Fanisko right now.

Benefits for Using Augmented Reality in Sports and Events for Athletes and Fans

When it comes to IT and technology trends, there is no question that augmented reality is something everyone is talking about. While AR may still be in its early stages, there is no question it is here to stay. This technology is helping to transform the entire consumer experience and present an array of new opportunities for businesses. When used to its full potential, augmented reality in the sports industry helps to bring positive and vital changes to audiences and fans, marketing departments, and more.

The Use of AR in the Realm of Professional Sports

You have likely heard of both AR and VR. These futuristic technologies are here to stay and, like any other useful invention, can have a positive impact on user’s lives. When discussing AR and its use in the sports industry, you can see how gradually and naturally it has been entering into the routines of various sports figures and competitions. When used to its full potential, augmented reality can improve an athlete’s skills, reduce the risks of injuries and failures, and enhance the fan’s viewing experience.

The Use of AR During Tournaments

It is possible to apply augmented reality to various sports competitions to help secure a fair game. You can already see how this works thanks to the Hawk-Eye system, which has been used for several years. This technology offers a 3D representation of a ball’s trajectory and is used in an array of sports, including volleyball, association football, Rugby Union, hurling, badminton, Gaelic football, tennis, and cricked.

While the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is predicted that when this is rescheduled, even more, AR elements will be used. Streaming events online and watching sports on television will be more realistic thanks to the use of this technology.

The most important benefit of watching on TV or online is that you get more detailed information about what is going on. For example, if you have seats that are far from the field, it can be hard to see everyone and make out what is going on. However, with a marker-based AR app or smart glasses, these issues are eliminated.

AR and Practice

Sports teams, trainers, and athletes are always searching for effective ways to get better results and ensure they win. The use of new technologies is a significant bonus for any professional athlete who wants to improve their techniques.

AR is predicted to become a beneficial tool that will provide real-time data about each jump, throw, push, run distance, and hit. With this information, everyone involved in the training process will be able to correct their actions, make the right decisions, and change the techniques, if needed.

Are You Ready to Implement AR in Your Sports Activities?

As you can see, there is an array of benefits offered by using AR for sports events. Athletes, trainers, and fans will soon see these benefits firsthand.

GenZ and Millennial Sports Fans Are Changing the Game of Sports

Millennials and GenZ’ers are already the majority of the population and only by addressing their needs and viewing preferences will the sports industry be able to maximize its profits and fan retention capabilities. Times, they are changing.

Time does seem to pass faster now that we are in the digital age, doesn’t it? It’s still a bit hard to come to grips with the fact that the 90’s started almost 30 years ago. Yet, those born in 2000 are turning eighteen this year. These ‘kids’ are the so-called Generation Z (born between 1995 and 2015) and are taking the world of sports by storm.

This change was already in the making of the millennial generation, but unlike their successors, millennials are more of a transition breed, born and raised predominantly in the pre-internet era. Nevertheless, statistics show that by 2020, 40% of consumers and a third of all US citizens will be, in fact, part of GenZ. That’s less than two years away.

And for the great amount of influence this generation will have in the immediate future, many marketers don’t seem to give it too much consideration. This is probably because they’re still trying to figure out millennials to even consider taking on the younger generation.

The Change Is Already Happening

Kids or not, many are already active members of society, either going to college or being part of the workforce. Jonah Stillman, an 18-year-old keynote speaker, author, and generation expert at GenZGuru, is for all intents and purposes the voice of his peers. In September 2017, he was hired by the Minnesota Vikings to conduct research and predict trends based on the viewing habits of his fellow GenZ’ers.

In an interview with the New York Post, Stillman said that “we may not be your core consumers right now, but five or 10 or 15 years down the line, we are going to be your avid spenders, your avid fans, and the time to get on our radar is now.” He also went on to say that “A GenZ’er will watch on the TV for 10 seconds, look at their phone for the next two minutes, then back at their laptop screen, then the next 20 minutes they’re back on the TV screen.”

In other words, sports content will be highly fragmented and will appear on a multitude of digital channels, other than TV. In fact, the more of these viewing options there are, the more TV will lose its central focus, tying everything together. This trend is already beginning to happen and will only accelerate as time goes on.

Such a development presents ample opportunities for sports teams and leagues to engage with their fans in more meaningful ways. Yet, this diversity in terms of both content and viewing channels can quickly become too complex, being hard to follow, predict, and monetize.

Certain platforms such as Fanisko Engage can offer the benefits of both content diversity and the convenience of having that content on the same app. Fans will be able to watch all trending topics about their team without having to change between TV, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook to get it. Highlights, behind-the-scenes moments, games, VR/AR simulations, and other such customizable content will be easily accessible on a single platform.