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Navigating New Augmented Reality Experiences

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Transforming Indoor Wayfinding: ARway

The evolution of indoor wayfinding has become a pivotal force as seamless navigation attained a paramount position. Businesses and public spaces are witnessing a transformation in how people traverse through indoor spaces. The demand for efficient and user-friendly indoor wayfinding solutions has spurred innovation. Today, we deep dive into the heart of this development, exploring the diverse landscapes shaped by cutting-edge technologies.

Understanding The Need for Change

The conventional methods of indoor wayfinding are facing a crossroads. Users encounter limitations and challenges in navigating complex interiors, urging demand to shift towards more advanced solutions. The call for change resonates in various sectors, from retail environments to sprawling healthcare facilities. Businesses recognize the necessity of providing an enhanced, intuitive navigation experience. Users encounter frustrations with static maps and traditional systems that fail to adapt to the dynamic nature of indoor spaces.

Enterprises are increasingly seeking interactive wayfinding systems to address these challenges. The traditional models are giving way to a more dynamic approach that embraces modern technology’s interactive digital touchpoints. This shift from static to dynamic maps signifies a turning point in how users engage with indoor spaces. This evolution is not merely about finding a location but crafting an efficient and engaging experience.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the technological advancements propelling this development  forward. We’ll witness how AR wayfinding, a beacon of innovation, is reshaping the landscape, and we’ll unravel the intricacies of interior wayfinding design that contribute to a more user-centric future.
For further reading, please see What is Digital Wayfinding: Top 10 Benefits.

Technology Driving Interior Wayfinding

Interior wayfinding design goes beyond mere aesthetics; it’s a strategic approach to guide users intuitively through indoor environments. As we witness the evolution of indoor wayfinding, technology plays a pivotal role in elevating traditional design principles. The merging of design and technology introduces dynamic and interactive elements, enriching the user experience in unprecedented ways. Let us take a look at the different aspects of technology that are utilized to facilitate indoor wayfinding.

Augmented Reality (AR) Wayfinding:

AR wayfinding takes interior navigation to a new dimension by superimposing digital information onto the physical environment. Users can view real-time directions, points of interest, and additional information seamlessly integrated into their surroundings, providing an immersive and interactive navigation experience.

Mobile Applications:

Mobile applications serve as a bridge between interior wayfinding design and user interaction. These apps, often connected to a centralized wayfinding system, allow users to access personalized navigation on their smartphones. Integrating GPS, Bluetooth, and other technologies within these apps enhances accuracy and provides real-time guidance.

Beacon Technology:

Beacon technology utilizes low-energy Bluetooth signals to communicate with mobile devices and provide location-specific information. Integrating beacons into interior wayfinding design allows for highly targeted and context-aware guidance, enabling users to receive relevant information based on their location within a space.

Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS):

IPS leverages a combination of technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and sensors, to determine a user’s location in an indoor environment. This high-accuracy positioning enables sophisticated interior wayfinding, guiding users with precision through complex layouts.

Interactive Touchpoints:

Interactive touchpoints, such as digital kiosks and touchscreens strategically placed within indoor spaces, enhance the wayfinding experience. Users can interact with these displays to access maps, directions, and additional information, fostering a dynamic and engaging navigation process.

10 Key Components of Modern Indoor Wayfinding Solutions

Indoor wayfinding solutions have evolved far beyond static maps and traditional signages, ushering in a new era of seamless navigation. In the modern landscape, these solutions are multifaceted, integrating various cutting-edge components to enhance user experiences. Let’s delve into the key elements that define the anatomy of modern indoor wayfinding solutions:

Real-Time Data Integration:

Modern indoor wayfinding thrives on real-time data integration. The ability to provide up-to-the-minute information about the indoor environment ensures users have the most accurate and relevant guidance.

Location Intelligence:

Location intelligence forms the backbone of contemporary wayfinding solutions. These navigation systems can interpret and respond to user movements by leveraging data analytics and geospatial insights, enabling dynamic and adaptive navigation experiences.

Mobile Integration:

The ubiquitous presence of smartphones has reshaped indoor navigation. Modern solutions seamlessly integrate with mobile devices, offering users a personalized, portable navigation experience. Mobile apps act as the gateway, connecting users to the intricacies of indoor spaces.

Augmented Reality (AR) Wayfinding:

A game-changer in indoor navigation, AR wayfinding overlays digital information onto the physical environment. AR enhances navigation with an immersive and interactive layer by superimposing directions, points of interest, and real-time data onto a user’s view.

User-Friendly Interfaces:

The user interface is a crucial component. Intuitive and user-friendly interfaces empower users to interact with the wayfinding system effortlessly. From touchscreens to voice commands, modern solutions prioritize accessibility and ease of use.

Personalization Algorithms:

Modern indoor wayfinding systems are not a one-size-fits-all approach. Personalization algorithms analyze user preferences, behavior, and historical data to tailor navigation experiences. This ensures that each user receives a customized journey based on their individual needs.

IoT Sensors:

The Internet of Things (IoT) is pivotal in enhancing indoor navigation. IoT sensors detect and communicate data about the physical environment in real time, contributing to the overall accuracy and responsiveness of the wayfinding system.

Integration with Building Infrastructure:

Seamless integration with the existing building infrastructure is a key consideration. Modern wayfinding solutions collaborate with building layouts, Wi-Fi networks, and other structural elements to provide cohesive and comprehensive navigation.

Data Security Measures:

As indoor wayfinding systems deal with sensitive location data, robust data security measures are essential. Encryption, user authentication, and secure data storage ensure the privacy and protection of user information.

Continuous Improvement Mechanisms:

The ability to evolve and adapt is crucial for any modern indoor wayfinding solution. Continuous improvement mechanisms, fueled by user feedback and performance analytics, enable these systems to stay responsive to changing needs and technological advancements.

The Transformative Role of Indoor Navigation 

The challenges of navigation often present a complex puzzle. Indoor navigation and way-finders emerge as a remarkable solution, addressing several significant hurdles and fundamentally transforming how we move within enclosed spaces. Let’s explore the challenges that indoor navigation systems adeptly navigate:

Complex Architectural Layouts:

Traditional indoor spaces, particularly large and intricate structures like shopping malls, airports, and hospitals, pose challenges due to their complex layouts. Indoor navigation systems provide users with precise guidance, ensuring they navigate efficiently through twists, turns, and multiple levels.

Information Overload:

The abundance of information within indoor spaces can be overwhelming for users. Indoor navigation systems filter through this information clutter, offering users relevant guidance, whether it’s locating a specific store in a mall or finding the right office in a vast corporate complex.

Dynamic Environments:

Indoor spaces are dynamic, with changes in layouts, temporary closures, or event-specific configurations. Wayfinders equipped with real-time data integration adapts to these changes on the fly, providing users with the most current and accurate information.

Time Efficiency:

Time is of the essence, especially in environments where users have specific tasks or appointments. Indoor navigation systems optimize routes, helping users reach their destinations swiftly and efficiently. This is particularly crucial in spaces like hospitals, where timely access to specific areas can be a matter of urgency.

Enhanced Visitor Experience:

Public spaces, museums, and cultural institutions strive to enhance visitor experiences. Indoor navigation contributes to a positive experience by guiding visitors seamlessly through exhibits, providing additional information, and ensuring they make the most of their visit.

Accessibility Challenges:

Indoor navigation plays a pivotal role in addressing accessibility challenges. For individuals with mobility impairments, visual impairments, or other special needs, these systems provide tailored routes and information to make indoor spaces more inclusive and accessible.

Improving Retail Experiences:

Finding specific products or promotions efficiently in retail environments can be challenging. Indoor navigation systems enhance the retail experience by guiding customers to desired items, offering promotions along the way, and streamlining the shopping process.

Employee Productivity:

In large corporate offices or manufacturing facilities, employee productivity can be impacted by the time spent navigating the premises. Indoor navigation solutions ensure employees can move efficiently within the workspace, minimizing time locating meeting rooms, colleagues, or resources.

Emergency Response:

Navigating quickly and safely is critical during emergencies. Indoor navigation systems assist in emergency response scenarios, guiding individuals to emergency exits, first aid stations, or designated assembly points.

Conclusion 

The indoor navigation and wayfinding landscape is experiencing a comprehensive transformation driven by cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions. The journey has continuously evolved from addressing the challenges posed by complex architectural layouts to enhancing user experiences through real-time data integration and AR wayfinding. As businesses and public spaces embrace these advancements, the future of indoor navigation promises not only efficiency but also an engaging and personalized experience for users. 

About ARway.ai by Nextech3D.ai

ARway.ai is a powerful, no-code spatial computing platform that melds the real and the virtual into a seamless experience. One of its powerful features includes navigation and wayfinding that facilitates the creation of robust AR navigation with accurate positioning, digital directory, turn-by-turn, and optimized routes.

ARway Creator Portal

Create, manage, and track the performance of 3D maps and Augmented Reality Wayfinding experiences with no code. Key features of the ARway Creator Portal include:

Floorplans & LiDAR Scans

Configure spaces with floorplan images or LiDAR scans as schematics for remote visualization and authoring of spatial content.

Location Pins & Navigation

Improve navigation with AR wayfinding. Drop location pins at points of interest on your map to populate a directory of locations your visitors can navigate.

Map Management

Manage specifications, features, location-persistent content, and linkages of your maps. Generate QR codes and administer your visitor experience.

Guided Tours

Create turn-by-turn navigation paths populated with AR content to create engaging, curated digital tour guides for your visitors.

Analytics & Location Intelligence
Measure the performance of your maps and obtain key insights into visitor behavior in your space.

Content Library

Populate a content library with images, audio files, 3D models, videos, and more to be published in spatial experiences as location-persistent content.
Why wait? To learn more about this advanced AR navigation solution, contact us here right away!

Reinventing the In-Store Experience with AR Activations and Navigation

Boosting In-Store Experience with AR Navigation & Activations

The customer experience is constantly reinvented and reimagined. Retailers must always be on the lookout for creative ways to retain their customers’ loyalty and attract new ones. Unfortunately, 40% of retail customers are reporting that the in-store shopping experience is due for an improvement. Lack of product information available, untidy stores and shelves, and being unable to locate the product they are looking for are some common consumer problems that can cause them to walk out of a store and prefer to shop online. Thankfully, over the recent years, there’s been an obvious movement towards the metaverse, and the way it blurs the line between the online and in-store shopping experience using AR. As such, forward-looking retailers and facility managers need to stop and strongly re-evaluate how they are leveraging AR in their omnichannel retail strategy to improve the shopping experience for their customers.

ARway’s technology comes to the rescue with their AR navigation and wayfinding, AR product displays and product information, and proximity AR marketing to help retailers improve their in-store experience with, while using gathered data insights to make future improvements and compel more people to spend time in their facility. Continue reading to learn how interactive AR engagements can make a physical store have a retail experience of the future.

Navigating Shopping Malls with Augmented Reality Wayfinding

Shopping centers nowadays are not simply shopping centers. They’re large spaces also operating as arcades, movie theatres, and restaurants – that means it’s easy to get lost!

When navigating a mall for the first time, it’s confusing. But as a consumer is trying to get to where they want to go, it all boils down to the 3 questions: Where am I? Where’s that place/product located? How do I get there?

Typical ways to navigate shopping malls

1. Ask Staff

Everyone’s method is to ask someone for help, but you’re lucky nowadays if you’re able to find someone. 26% of retail customers report being unable to find a store associate when they need help getting directions and 70%+ of shoppers report the inability to find an available store associate as their top challenge, which makes sense since rarely will you encounter a retail space with a 1:1 ratio of store associate to customer.

2. Information kiosks

While they appear helpful and are usually color-coded, customers can oftentimes forget the steps they need to take not long after they look at the kiosk.

3. 2D maps

2D maps simply don’t translate well indoors. Our brains don’t translate the 2D visual that well, which leads to people still getting lost.

When you instead take a human-centric approach, you get AR navigation. Arrows or other types of markers guide users through their phone screen with step-by-step directions to their desired store with ease. Customers navigate anywhere within the mall or department store with AR wayfinding, just as they would use GPS to navigate anywhere outside. AR wayfinding saving time and boosting customer satisfaction in turn has been shown to lead to a 41% increase in foot traffic in shopping malls, which translated into measurable sales growth in 4 out of 5 stores.

AR wayfinding can be taken a step further and used even once a customer reaches the store they’re looking for. By using a store directory, customers can search for products they’re interested in and receive navigation help directly to them with an AR navigation path. Retailers lose out on potential sales when customers can’t find what they’re looking for – and a staggering 65% note it as a key frustration. And with typically not much help from associates, 67.3% tend to walk out empty-handed because they couldn’t find the product they wanted

Attract New Customers

When people decide to check out brick-and-mortar retail stores, they’re typically after special promotions, free samples, giveaways, and discounts which are all essential factors in their purchasing decisions since nearly 40% of shoppers buy sooner and 35% spend more when presented with a coupon or discount.

The location technology behind AR wayfinding allows retailers to identify people nearby their store, pulling customers into their store and giving them a reason to stay and make purchases with AR coupon treasure hunts. Similar in style to Pokemon Go, customers can walk around the store and collect items to earn coupons. Not only is it a way to give customers what they want from a business, but retailers that use gamification see up to a 7 times higher conversion rate.

The impact of AR on shopping

Streamline the Sales Process

Information is king through its ability to empower consumers. They are constantly seeking good, reliable information to make the best purchasing decision. While it’s a lot easier to provide this information online, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done in a physical store. A customer often asks an employee for product information, as they’re an extension of the store and presumably are familiar. Yet 64% of brick-and-mortar retail customers recorded a lack of guidance and knowledge offered by staff as one of their top five customer experience pain points.

AR via hotspots, videos, holograms, and other 3D content enables customers to independently learn information about products they’re interested in, view available variations, and find available sizes as they explore a store. It’s similar to information they can find online but in an accessible and immersive format, eliminating the lack of product information they’re used to.

Optimizing a Retail Space

In-Store Displays

To only rely on physical store space limits how many products can be on display and accessible to customers at any one time. Keeping in mind that the average shopper makes three unplanned purchases in four out of 10 stores they visit, displaying products in AR is a great way to engage shoppers and drive awareness.

Utilizing the store’s air space by displaying products in AR increases the number of products that customers can see in the store and reduces the costs of holding inventory. Retailers can then track and capture real-time analytic data, unlike traditional displays or advertisements.

Unlabeled or improperly priced products

Unlabeled products or those with the wrong pricing tag are a bit irritating for customers since it’s an expectation that the store has it correct. This often leads to unnecessary price-checking queries, affecting store efficiency, employee productivity, and overall customer service experience. By replacing physical labels and tags with product QR codes that customers can scan with their phone to view the price and available sizes, as well as to order it online, it’s reliable and consistent information for customers.

Untidy stores and shelves

Unorganized products on the wrong shelf or hanging rail could mean customers end up with a product they thought was a different price, causing frustration, price checks, and avoidable delays at the checkouts – problems they know they won’t typically have online. To keep them coming back to retail locations, more AR product displays help the store stay organized and appealing to customers while reducing the number of times employees need to spend tidying up, thus improving their productivity.

Overstocking on inventory

The average retailer in the US sits on $1.36 of inventory for every $1 in sales due to overstocking. As a result, retailers often have to offer 30% to 70% discounts to move items off the shelves, which led to retail markdowns of $300 billion in 2018. By storing more inventory in AR and using a just-in-time (JIT) inventory management strategy, there’s no oversight and money loss.

Interested in reinventing your retail space for the future? Contact us to learn more about how AR Spatials and navigation can transform your customers’’ experience.

 

AR Wayfinding with MetaMaps: Enhance Indoor Navigation

MetaMaps: Improving Navigation of Complex Spaces with AR-Enhanced Indoor Wayfinding

We’re no strangers to relying on signage to arrive at our desired destination, especially when navigating large and crowded areas. It’s meant to make the journey seamless and hassle-free, yet we still all find ourselves getting lost from time to time. After all, that’s why we tend to get to places early to account for any mishaps and most importantly, to avoid that extra and unnecessary stress.

So, why are people still getting lost? It’s clear the style of conventional wayfinding we’re used to isn’t cutting it anymore. Continue reading to learn how Augmented Reality (AR) is the cornerstone of the next step for indoor navigation and wayfinding.

What is Augmented Reality Wayfinding?

The main issue with 2D maps is that they’re simply not reactive enough and there’s no clear direction on how to reach objects or destinations far away. Recent studies have shown that one of the biggest retail customer pain points is navigation, as 61% of customers reported navigating in large spaces as one of the key frustrations.

AR wayfinding is the ideal solution to the fact that indoor spaces are a lot more complex than outdoor spaces. Customers are not necessarily looking for more assistance but better assistance – AR is here to lead us to our destination faster than ever before.

Augmented Reality for Indoor Wayfinding

Augmented reality wayfinding essentially functions as a digital guide. Through a mobile device, users see digital information laid over their real-world environment in real time. An AR wayfinding app can show directional prompts to get people to the opposite side of a building if that’s where they need to go – no matter how packed it is. And with over three-fourths of smartphone owners already regularly using navigation apps, this type of technology is nothing new.

People can then navigate their way around complex indoor spaces, from healthcare facilities, universities, shopping centers, airports, stadiums, and more with ease! Not only will it be easier, but it’s proven to be much faster as AR navigation is 2x faster than 2D navigation using signage.

How Does AR-Based Indoor Navigation Work?

To get to the stage of providing a display of AR directions, first comes the actual navigation and localization of the user within the map so that the system understands the location.

This is where you would expect GPS and other typical outdoor technologies to work, but they don’t translate as well when indoors. A different approach and one of the most common ways is to install beacons like the Gatwick airport has done. With over 2,000 beacons installed, it acts as the base for their indoor navigation system and allows travelers to locate themselves to find their gates, exits, information centers, and more.

From there, AR technology is incorporated and provides directions on a smartphone screen on top of the real-world environment. Arrows, text boxes, and paths light a user’s device to make the navigation process incredibly simple and efficient – so efficient to the point where studies of AR maps versus 2D maps have shown it takes nearly double the time to navigate when using the 2D physical map.

Not every business has the budget behind an airport, so installing thousands of beacons isn’t a viable option. This is where AR Way comes in, with their elegantly simple indoor wayfinding solution that allows anyone to map out any space and populate it with content without writing a single line of code, and without the need for beacons, Wi-Fi, or external hardware. By simply scanning a location, businesses can create a point-cloud map via mobile app. A navigation path, 3D models, and other content can then be anchored to the physical environment and viewed through the app. The result is a seamless and hyper-accurate outdoor-indoor AR navigation enhanced with content along the path.

Where Can AR Wayfinding Technology Be Used?

Retail

AR in-store navigation can enhance the shopping experience by empowering customers to search and learn more about products. One of the biggest pain points for 64% of brick-and-mortar retail customers is the limited amount of product information available to them. Through an AR-enabled app, customers can click and learn about products they’re interested in.

AR wayfinding has been proven to lead to a 41% increase in foot traffic in a shopping mall, which translated into measurable sales growth in 4 out of 5 stores. Businesses can impact customers at the right time when they are in the range of their store and offer coupons to encourage more visits.

 

AR Wayfinding and spatial activations in a shopping mall

Museums and Galleries

The goal behind featuring artworks at museums and galleries is to have visitors feel connected to the pieces. According to a Seattle Art Museum (SAM) survey, many participants report wanting to learn more about exhibits, but not having sufficient information available to them. By featuring audio recordings, curator commentary, timelines, photographs, and more through the app, visitors foster not only a deeper understanding but are also more engaged. According to the study, 84% feel more engaged & find an experience more memorable if it has AR elements.

 

AR MetaTour and spatial activations in an art gallery

Hospitals

Hospital visitors are typically already stressed due to the nature of their visit, so AR-enhanced navigation is a simple way to take stress off patients and guide them to their appointment destination. If patients don’t have access to AR-navigation, the next logical step is to ask employees, leading to medical staff spending an average of 4,500 hours giving directions every year, which is equivalent to two full-time employees.

 

AR Wayfinding and spatial activations in a hospital

Stadiums

Attending a concert or event is a fun, memorable experience. What isn’t fun is when visitors can’t find a restroom or miss a key moment because they’re stuck in a concession line. AR wayfinding can display the shortest lines or specific vendors and merchandise to offer a seamless experience.

It’s not only a boosted visitor experience but a plus for business owners as well, as they highlight sponsorship opportunities and concessions, and offer coupons for merchandise revenue.

 

AR MetaTour and spatial activation in a stadium

How Can Augmented Reality Wayfinding Help You?

The bottom line behind AR wayfinding and navigation is that it will enhance your visitor’s overall experience, whether it’s a large, complex airport or a small brick-and-mortar store.

A hardware-free MetaMap has the potential to offer savings of up to $33,000 when eliminating the need to provide maintenance and repairs on physical wayfinding signage while staff are free to work and productivity rises as customers get to their destination with zero help.

AR is here to enhance our physical environment with visual, textual, and audio through our fingertips. Is your business ready to use AR to enable your customers to find products and services faster? Contact us to learn more about how AR Wayfinding can transform your visitors’ experience.

 

Mapping the Future: ARway’s Cutting-Edge Indoor Wayfinding

In the realm of indoor navigation, ARway is at the forefront, offering a cutting-edge wayfinding solution that transforms how we traverse complex environments like malls, airports, and museums.

Navigating with Precision: ARway’s Innovative Wayfinding

As we step into 2024, the trajectory of technological advancement is steering us toward a future where digital and physical realms coalesce more seamlessly than ever before. Leading the charge in this transformative era, ARway emerges as an innovator in the rapidly expanding domain of indoor wayfinding.

This transformative technology is not just a trend but the way forward, redefining navigation within intricate indoor spaces. ARway’s innovative solution is poised to become the new standard, offering unparalleled precision and interactivity in how we map and move through our environments. Gone are the days of static signage and disorientation; the future is clear, connected, and intuitively navigated through the lens of ARway’s spatial computing platform.

ARway.ai is a web-based platform that utilizes cutting-edge AR technology to create an immersive experience for indoor navigation.

Seamless Indoor Navigation with AR

ARway’s platform leverages the power of AR to guide users with real-time visual cues and directions overlaid onto the physical space around them. This immersive approach simplifies the process of finding your way in unfamiliar or sprawling indoor spaces. With ARway, users can see their path illuminated on their device’s screen, offering clarity and confidence with every step.

Empowering Spaces with AI and AR

At the core of ARway’s system is a robust combination of AI and AR technologies. The AI component understands the environment, identifies points of interest, and suggests the best routes. Meanwhile, AR brings this data to life, providing a visual representation that’s both engaging and informative. This synergy not only enhances user experience but also improves accessibility for all visitors, including those with disabilities.

Interactive Points of Interest

ARway doesn’t just show the way; it enriches the journey. Users can interact with points of interest along their route, accessing detailed information, offers, and insights. This feature not only aids navigation but also opens up new possibilities for businesses to connect with visitors, offering targeted content and experiences that are relevant and engaging.

Data-Driven Insights for Businesses

For businesses, ARway provides invaluable data and insights. By understanding how visitors navigate spaces and interact with different areas, businesses can optimize layouts, signage, and promotional strategies. This data-driven approach can lead to improved customer satisfaction and increased revenue opportunities.

Easy Integration and Customization

Integrating ARway into an existing infrastructure is straightforward. Its no-code platform means businesses can deploy ARway’s system without extensive IT involvement. Furthermore, ARway’s solutions are highly customizable, allowing businesses to tailor the user experience to reflect their brand and meet their specific needs.

The Future of Indoor Wayfinding

As we look to the future, the potential applications of ARway’s technology are vast. In education, for example, ARway can turn a campus into an interactive learning environment. In healthcare, it can guide patients and visitors through complex hospital corridors with ease. The possibilities are endless, and ARway is continuously evolving to meet the demands of a connected world.

In conclusion, ARway is not just mapping the future of indoor wayfinding; it’s creating it. Its innovative approach to merging AI with AR paves the way for a more connected, accessible, and engaging indoor navigation experience. As we embrace these advancements, we can expect to see ARway’s technology become an integral part of our everyday lives, simplifying and enhancing the way we interact with our surroundings.

About ARway.ai by Nextech3D.ai

Augmented Reality Experience Platform, ARway.ai is a powerful, no-code spatial computing platform that melds the real and the virtual into a single seamless experience. One of its powerful features includes navigation and wayfinding that facilitates the creation of robust AR navigation with accurate positioning, digital directory, turn-by-turn and optimized routes. To learn more about this advanced indoor navigation solution, contact us here.

Navigating the Future: Activating Your ARway Map for Enhanced Indoor Wayfinding

In the dynamic world of augmented reality (AR), ARway stands out as a leader in indoor navigation solutions. By merging the digital with the physical, ARway is transforming how we engage with indoor spaces, offering a new perspective on spatial computing.

Expanding the Capabilities of AR in Indoor Environments

ARway’s indoor navigation technology goes beyond traditional approaches. It provides a sophisticated platform where users can create customized maps for various venues, from shopping malls to museums. This capability allows for a more personalized user experience, as visitors can interact with the space in a way that’s both informative and engaging.

Building Interactive Experiences with ARway

The ARway platform empowers creators to build rich, interactive experiences. Users can add various elements to their maps, like interactive hotspots, information overlays, and custom navigation paths. These features not only guide visitors through the space but also provide them with valuable information and engaging content, enhancing their overall experience.

Seamless Integration with Existing Systems

One of the strengths of ARway is its ability to integrate seamlessly with existing systems. Whether you’re looking to incorporate AR into a retail environment or an educational institution, ARway’s technology can be easily adapted to suit your needs. This flexibility is crucial for businesses and organizations looking to implement AR solutions without overhauling their existing infrastructure.

Enhancing User Engagement with ARway’s Tools

ARway provides a suite of tools designed to maximize user engagement. From the ARwayKit SDK, which offers extensive customization options, to the ARway App which brings the created experiences to life, every aspect of the platform is geared towards creating an immersive and memorable user experience.

The Process of Map Creation and Activation

Creating your first AR map with ARway is straightforward:

Account Setup and Map Creation

Begin by setting up your account in the ARway Creator Portal. Here, you can start the journey of map creation, from defining the area to uploading the necessary spatial data.

Adding Interactive Elements

ARway allows you to enrich your map with various interactive elements. This includes placing location pins, creating guided tours, and integrating various media types to enhance the user’s experience.

QR Code Generation and Placement

For easy access, ARway enables the generation of QR codes. These codes act as gateways for users to enter and interact with your AR environment.

Using the ARway App for Activation

The ARway App plays a crucial role in activating and managing your map. It’s a tool that brings your digital creation to life in the physical space.

Visitor Engagement and Experience

Once activated, visitors can use the ARway App to interact with your map. They can navigate through the space, engage with digital content, and experience a new layer of information that augments their physical surroundings.

The Benefits of ARway’s Indoor Navigation Platform

The ARway platform offers several advantages:

Enhanced User Experience

By providing interactive, visually rich information, ARway transforms the way users perceive and navigate indoor spaces.

Versatile Application

From retail to educational institutions, ARway’s indoor navigation solutions find applications in various sectors, tailoring experiences to specific user needs.

Ease of Use

With a no-code approach and user-friendly interface, ARway ensures that creating and managing AR experiences is accessible to everyone.

As we step into the future, ARway’s platform stands at the forefront, offering innovative solutions for indoor navigation and augmented reality experiences. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily activate your ARway map and embark on a journey of transforming spaces into dynamic, interactive environments.

For AR developers and newcomers to spatial computing, ARway is a comprehensive platform offering robust tools for crafting immersive AR experiences. With our platform, you can transform indoor wayfinding and enhance user interactions in any space. Explore ARway’s capabilities and redefine your approach to augmented reality. Start your journey with ARway today and bring a new level of interaction to indoor spaces.

ARway’s Commitment to Innovation

At ARway, the commitment to innovation is evident in every update and feature release. The platform is continuously evolving, adding new capabilities and refining existing ones to stay at the forefront of AR technology. This dedication ensures that ARway remains a top choice for businesses and developers seeking cutting-edge indoor navigation solutions.

Explore more about ARway’s indoor navigation solutions and how they can transform your space by contacting us today. Discover how ARway’s advanced technology can redefine your approach to spatial computing and create engaging experiences for your users.

Augmented Reality Wayfinding for Hospitals: The Future of Healthcare

Helping patients, visitors, and hospital staff navigate hospitals with ease using augmented reality (AR) wayfinding

Augmented Reality Wayfinding for Hospitals

Hospital with a guided tour, location pin, and AR activations.

Hospitals are designed to serve a diverse set of patients and needs, meaning there are a lot of route options for visitors to take. As a large-scale environment with complex transit and navigational systems, it’s no surprise that 30% of first-time visitors get confused and lost in hospitals.

This issue isn’t anything new, and it must be addressed as it risks a lower patient experience score and distracted staff directing visitors. By implementing technologies like augmented reality (AR), visitors and other parties alike can navigate hospital grounds with ease.

Continue reading below to discover the benefits of AR wayfinding for hospitals.

Improve the Patient Experience by Reducing Stress and Agitation

Hospitals are stressful for both patients and family members. Whether it’s a long stay or a brief appointment visit, it’s an uncomfortable and vulnerable environment. By assisting visitors to get where they need to be without one wrong turn, stress is kept to a minimum.

ARway app - following a guided tour populated with AR activations.

ARway app – following a guided tour populated with AR activations.

A properly executed wayfinding system powered by AR ensures that users always know exactly where they need to go and how to get there, helping them to stay calm. An interactive, 3D map is a major improvement against an approximate 2D layout of a building. It reduces anxiety by allowing patients, visitors, and staff to choose any point in the map directory and follow an intuitive AR navigation path with step-by-step instructions to reach their destination. All they need is a cell phone with a camera. It’s immersive and reduces anxiety by allowing visitors to choose any point on the map for accurate directions. This easy to follow navigation can be accessed via a smartphone app where the wayfinding system will then overlay arrows onto the visitor’s camera display.

By empowering visitors to navigate around hospital facilities independently, staff are less likely to be distracted and asked for assistance. Studies have shown that if visitors do not have direction – or reassurance of their direction – every 30 feet while traveling through a facility, they will likely stop and ask an employee for directions. This leads to an astounding 40% of visitors and patients depending on hospital staff for wayfinding assistance. And although hospital staff are there to help patients, those few minutes providing directions add up quickly and make all the difference in an industry where minutes can mean a life saved. Interactive guides and preset evacuation routes are additional time savers, as staff won’t be relied on to decrease or redirect the flow of traffic to specific areas of the hospital during emergencies.

By keeping patient stress to a minimum and being on time, hospitals can expect happier customers and a decreased workload for their staff. Sticking to schedule leads hospitals to then reduce the costly impact of late and missed appointments, which cost hospitals an overwhelming $150 billion annually in the U.S.

Improve Spatial Awareness and Safety for Patients, Hospital Visitors and New Staff

An interactive wayfinding map can have even more incredible value added to it. Hospitals have the ability to insert contextually relevant information as visitors and staff move about. If new staff or a visitor needs to get to a specific wing, names can be displayed in AR as well as those of rooms and points of interest to inform and better guide them.

Hospital hallway with AR activations and location pin navigation.

Hospital hallway with AR activations and location pin navigation.

In addition to preset evacuation routes, hospitals can provide instant notifications to safely guide patients to their destination from arrival to departure by displaying the latest policy and guides instantly on their screen in AR, eliminating wasted time searching for the most up-to-date hospital routes or rules and the possibility of a missed appointment.

These notifications can also extend to reminders, providing on-the-go health and safety reminders to visitors, patients, and staff, such as hand-washing procedures.

Lastly, gamifying the hospital experience with AR can be particularly helpful for distracting kids and reducing anxiety in places like waiting rooms. Gamification can range from AR object collection games (think Pokemon Go!) to interactive learning, such as science fun fact AR cards.

Enhanced, Simpler Hospital Facility Management

With more visitors using the wayfinding app, these data insights can be collected and leveraged to improve the overall hospital experience, operations, and safety. By understanding how hospital visitors occupy spaces, their most used routes, where they spend the most, and where they often get lost, facility managers can make meaningful improvements to the campus layout and improve navigational instructions as well as optimize energy use while even reducing operational costs.

Ready to create a patient-centric hospital experience? Visit ARway.ai to learn how to get started.

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