SBWeb_2016_July 13_Pokemon Go in Brazil_Image_2Back just few years ago, let’s say, seven or eight, 99.5% of the world population could not believe what our smartphones can do these days. None of us could to believe that our cell phones were going to be our constant companions. This was before Siri. This was before people used Google Maps to search. Yelp was just starting out. There was no Instagram. At that time I talked about a time when with a cell phone camera we would be able to get additional data, advertise and purchase without the need of a computer.

Well, that’s augmented reality and although the capability has been available for some time, last week Nintendo released a game called Pokemon Go which is an augmented reality game that combines elements of the real world and a game that allows players to catch Pokemons. It was launched July 6 (2016) in the U.S and just one week later, the App had millions of downloads, people going crazy about it, and 80% of the American media and publishing talk about it. While I’m not excited about the game per se, it now opens up the door for other augmented reality apps that will help each and every one of us as consumers and business owners.

Now just to be clear, augmented reality is different that virtual reality (which is now possible with Goggles.) With virtual reality, you are entering a totally digital universe and shutting out the real one we live in. With augmented reality we have the opportunity to enhance the real world with data. For example, you can use a map overlay to see properties for sale oor businesses with specials or in the case of a magazine, to get more information. In fact, there is an app in development that will allow you to take a picture of let’s say a painting in a museum and get all sorts of information on it and the artist. The applications are limitless. We should be facing a new type of revolution.

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