Sherri May & Co.

A recent trend in the world of smart phone technology is the sudden emergence of augmented reality (AR) applications. These state-of-the-art apps give users a futuristic and highly interactive way to experience the world around them. Not just for fun and games, these apps can help you find your car in a crowded lot, locate a bank within walking distance, and give your next marketing campaign a serious boost.

Here are the top 5 ways you can use augmented reality:

1. Travel – Getting your bearings in a new city isn’t always easy. When traveling abroad, use Word Lens to translate signs, or check out Wikitude (voted best augmented reality app in 2010) for an information overlay that tells you a variety of information including where to find the nearest ATM, restaurant, and Wikipedia articles that pertain to your surroundings.

2. Daily Life – When you’re looking to buy a couch but you’d like to see how it looks in your family room first, when your car is lost in a sea of sedans, or when you’re craving exotic food with high reviews, augmented reality comes in handy. Apps like SnapShop Showroom, Yelp, and Augmented Car Finder could likely become your trusted guides.

3. A Big Budget Marketing Promotion – Augmented reality will likely change the face of marketing, but this technology doesn’t come without a high price. Expect to spend anywhere from $30,000 to $200,000 for an augmented reality marketing promotion from top companies like Ogmento and Metaio, or as much as $700,000 from AR leader, Total Immersion.

If that’s not in your budget, your business can live vicariously through a few notable AR campaigns from Starbucks, BMW, and my personal favorite, RayBan’s Virtual Mirror that lets you try on sunglasses without leaving the house.

4. Transportation – For the directionally challenged, certain AR apps (like New York Nearest Places and London Tube) can help you navigate big city subway systems and get your bearings when you’re lost.

5. Games – Finally, even though it’s not an entirely practical use, AR technology is constantly changing the gaming world. Check out AR Basketball or AR Soccer to use your surroundings as the backdrop for an impromptu sports game, while apps like SkinVaders lets you use your own face as a battleground.

Whether you use augmented reality for virtual gaming, or use the apps in a time of need, the common theme here is that these applications use innovative technology to bring a new generation of interactivity to our fingertips. As the technology advances, it will be fascinating to see how AR will be integrated into future marketing campaigns and our daily life.

Image: Turkletom via Flickr

After recently discovering my new favorite website, Fab.com, I realized the sites that are booming in our sluggish economy all share a common theme. Daily deals, deeply discounted prices, and quality products are just a few of the ways companies like LivingSocial and Groupon have raked in millions – if not billions – of dollars in profit seemingly overnight. With these components in mind, here are the next big things for 2012:

Discounted Furniture
Okay, before you start yawning, hear me out. One Kings Lane sells home décor through 72-hour deals at roughly 70% off. With daily notification emails, the company remain in steady contact with customers, and according to one source, boasts “over 2 million registered users on the company’s website. Last year, revenue came to $30 million and is expected to exceed $100 million in 2011.” Ever since the economy aggressively impacted the housing market, furniture stores have suffered in the wake. This begs the question, will online furniture companies like One Kings Lane make traditional furniture stores obsolete? It might be too soon to say, but it seems like there’s a strong chance.

Then comes my new favorite, Fab.com. This modern design site also sells discounted deals for a limited time, but it has a flair for all things eclectic. T-shirts, toys, and printed posters are featured from up and coming artists at extremely discounted prices. You have to be invited or join a waiting list to sign up, but it’s quickly growing in popularity thanks to this supply and demand strategy.

Threads … For Rent
We’ve all been in this situation. We have an upcoming event but don’t feel like spending $200 on a dress or suit we’ll only wear once. What’s the solution? Renting designer duds at a quarter of the price from RenttheRunway.com. Consumers are buzzing about this site that allows them to rent Diane von Furstenburg and Vera Wang without spending a small fortune.

If you notice the common thread in these cutting-edge companies, it’s that people like getting more for their money. It’s one thing to visit a department store and spend $50 on a new lamp– but it’s another to drop $50 for a $100 designer lamp. What will be the next big thing in 2012? It’s hard to say, but chances are strong it will be a site that offers consumers unparalleled savings for high-quality products.

Image source: nyconvergence.com