Layar, which has been the ‘poster child’ for augmented reality smartphone apps, just launched a brand new app in the iPhone’s App Store. If you’re still at a loss as to the significance of augmented reality, Layar’s own explanation from inside the app explains it well:
“Layar is a tool to browse the world. It enables exploration, more informed decisions, serendipity and fun. [...] While looking through the phone’s camera lens, a user can see houses for sale, popular bars and shops, tourist information of the area, play a live game, etc.”
How it all works
The app retrieves information from third-party developers who contribute their “layers†to the Layar platform. For example, there’s a layer called iMetro, and when it’s selected and you’re standing outside, Layar will display digital overlays of nearby bus stops and the time the next bus is arriving.
Layers are similar to plug-ins that customizes desktop browsers. There are also layers for Yellow Pages, Las Vegas casinos, and Wikipedia. The layers are free, as is the Layar app. However, Layar told Wired.com that after the platform generates enough interest, it might begin charging users for premium layers.
Some marketers have experimented with augmented reality (AR) to promote products through interactive and web-based applications, but AR is still in its infancy stage despite the huge potential it has to make our virtual experience very close to our real world.
My view of the world is that Baskin-Robbins got it right and that you need at least 31 flavors to keep everyone happy. The fact is that during the course of the B-R’s long history they came up with over 1,000 flavors, as the world remains in a constant state of change and what is popular today, may be not be tomorrow’s favorite flavor.
The Internet world is constantly changing too, and today, you need to develop products and programs that are elegant, adaptable and have the ability to be monetized.
I started in the print brokerage business in my third year at the University of Toronto, as a business project, and today, our division Magnum Printing is the evolution of over 25 years of constant change in that industry.
In 1995, I led the start up of Valu-net International Ltd. and together with a talented team we built one of the first e-commerce gateways for the Canadian banking system. We built the value of our small public company from $6 million to over $200 million, and I handed over the reigns in early 2000.
From 2000 to 2005, I was actively involved in traditional marketing programs, mainly involved in helping worthwhile not for profit organizations increase their mind share and donation base in Canada, the US, Europe and Australia. This program continues to have a legacy component that raises monies annually for major charities.
In 2005, we started to combine all our assets and form a company that was the pre-cursor to Intertainment Media Inc. The Internet was still not a popular front, but with the development of 2.0, consumer were getting it right and so were many businesses. I remain the CEO of this exciting company.
Today, we are on a very solid path, as our company focuses in the development of revenue driven New Media and partner programs that effectively allow companies and other organizations increase their ability to interact with their customers.
This is still a very new field, and it will take time to develop a truly robust revenue engine, but I believe that just like B-R, it will take a few key flavors to get everyone in to try the rest of the selection, and the rewards will be sweet.
I remain actively involved with my family, friends and the University of Toronto, as I have had the distinct honor to be able to work with some of the top young minds in their co-op management program and the Management Economic Student Association.
It is my sincere hope that you enjoy our Corporate Blog, and that you will provide us with feedback.
Best,
David
