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Technology come to life.”
That is one way to think about augmented reality. Augmented Reality — or AR, as it’s often quipped—projects graphics, videos and possibly more on top of real life, providing an enhanced view of the world through an electronic lens.
One common example is the yellow “first-down” lines superimposed on TV screens in American football. Something virtual overlaying something real.
Very soon, you’ll also begin seeing augmented reality business cards (which are a step up from business cards with QR codes, its said). At a conference, such as the upcoming SoCon12 
, someone might hand you a card that contains an augmented tag. When you view the card through your smartphone, you could see images pop-up—maybe a video reel or a real-time Twitter feed. How about a virtual CV or product offering? The possibilities are endless.
In late 2010, for example, AirWalk (a popular skateboarding shoe company) set up ‘digital pop-up stores’ at skate parks throughout the country to promote a limited-edition release of a popular shoe. The experiment was a hit, according to the company. For the users it was rather simple: download an app on your smart phone, go to the skatepark, open the app and click the floating shoe.
What does this possibility mean for the future, and what are the ways this could change your everyday life?
Terri Thorton, Thorton Communiations
These are precisely the types of questions Terri Thorton, founder of Atlanta media relations and social media firm Thorton Communications and MediaShift contributor, will address in her session “Real Life Only Better: The Latest in AR” at SoCon12, February 4, 2012, in Kennesaw, Ga.
Augmented reality is intended to be useful, yet half-wit gimmicks are already polluting perceptions of the technology. If you or your business is ready to dive into this new technology, considering attending Thorton’s session for a first-hand look at how AR fits into your existing social media marketing. Advancing technologies will continue to reshape the way people do business, consume and interact. And quite frankly, AR is a game changer.
To learn more about Thorton and her work, you can follow her on Twitter (@Ttho) or view her Facebook business page.
Ask yourself this: how can AR streamline my conversion funnel?
Don’t miss out on SoCon12, one of the Southeast’s longest running and well respected social media conferences, February 3-4, 2012. Register now.
