Breaking free: Mapless relocalization is the future of AR
Tags: Virtual Reality, Future, VR, AR, Augmented Reality

AR and VR technologies have been around for quite some, and are both going through an impressive maturing and development process in the past few years. This includes the field’s desire to “cut the cord” and be free of any restrictions it was initially under.

In VR, the new wireless headsets offer that, and in AR, it is the transition to automatic, real-time localization. The latter is still in the works and has become a key element in ReSight’s mission statement. In this article, we’ll explain why we consider it a critical focal point for our industry and how we can all move things forward in the right direction.

The disturbing reality of augmented reality

Traditional AR technology creates a problematic trade-off for AR content creation. Developers have to either rely on a specific namespaced map or base the content’s positioning only on GPS technology. The first option would compromise their ability to move freely, while the second will harm the AR content’s quality and behavior.

You might say that map-reliant AR takes the “reality” out of “augmented reality.” You have to create a sandbox version of the space for it to work. Building an application to a pre-scanned area or map may allow developers to create demos for investors, but not much more than that. The barrier of usefulness at scale remains intact, and these restrictions make the most intuitive and beneficial AR applications impossible to establish. Want users to enjoy a graffiti tour of an ever-changing street? Sorry, I’m afraid you can’t do that using old-school AR technology.

That’s one reason we’ve been hearing about the power of AR for years but still haven’t experienced it as expected. A recent survey found that while more than 70% of consumers want AR technology to be part of their purchasing journey, only 1% of retailers are actually using it at the moment. A survey of 900 developers in the field discovered that only 11% report current profitability for their projects. We’re clearly not there yet.

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Mapping the challenge

Asking developers to take on the task of mapping and merging is unacceptable. Here’s why:

Frequent updates: A demo app developed based on a specific space scan would try to re-localize against this map every single time we open it. Any change in location or within the original space would require updating the scan to still be able to relocalize and show the relevant AR content. This will create an unreasonable burden on developers.

A demo app developed based on a specific space scan would try to re-localize against this map every single time we open it. Any change in location or within the original space would require updating the scan to still be able to relocalize and show the relevant AR content. This will create an unreasonable burden on developers. Scaling issues: For an app to leave the demo stage, developers would have to create additional maps for each and every space. Users would then have to choose which specific map they want to access, which might work when only a few users are involved, but becomes almost impossible at scale, particularly for real-time use.

Those who expect AR developers to solve the above challenges are essentially asking them to build the solution that ReSight has been developing, which is no easy task. Instead, we should provide developers with ready-made tech solutions that will cut the process short and let them focus on creating the AR app of their dreams.

The AR industry has been trying different workarounds over the years, such as GPS to filter the results, letting the end-user choose the map (sometimes showing a photo of the map area). But the best way to solve the mapping challenge is to eliminate any need for it, which is precisely what we do here at ReSight.

Make space for mapless AR

Mapless AR solves this problem and cuts the cord, enabling AR developers and users to unlock AR’s full potential. It allows AR content to live out in the world, making it available to anyone using the app in that physical location, regardless of mapping.

With this technology, we want to finally let AR developers dream big. You can actually create apps that allow users to add content to a public layer on top of a physical location that was not pre-scanned. With the need to handle the mapping and updating out of the way, AR will be more useful, creative, and profitable. It will be able to live up to its promise and reach almost $80 billion in revenue by 2024. Many believe that AR has a more significant market potential than VR, but it is currently hindered by technical restrictions that can and should be lifted.

That’s why we’re hosting a challenge and inviting AR developers to come up with brilliant new ideas for AR apps and games. These innovative concepts, which until now were mostly sci-fi material, will turn into reality using ReSight’s technology. Challenge mentors include AR leaders from Sony, Lenovo, AWE, Qualcomm Ventures, and other top organizations. We’ll take the opportunity to invite you to join the biggest AR brainstorming party in the world for a chance to win $5000.

Reality constantly changes, and any technology that refers to it must offer real-time adaptation capabilities. I say, no more sandbox demos and unfulfilled potential. It’s time for AR to break free and show the world what it’s really capable of.

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