Upon the inception of augmented reality juggernaut Pokemon Go sweeping the world, we’ve already seen a full compliment of accompanied stories materialize as a result of the game: someone found a dead body, people were robbed, strangers banded together, public outcry, privacy hack conspiracies, etc. All of this has happened pretty quickly, and these outcomes have been somewhat predictable.
The truth the game itself is relatively mundane, but the technology rolled out by Nintendo and Google is very cool. In case you missed it, Pokemon Go takes place in the real world. Pokemon are ‘caught’ using your iPhone’s camera when you pass by predetermined geo-located destinations through the app. Players use Google Maps to find the location of many Pokemon, and notifications pop up whenever one is in your vicinity. The object of the game is to collect as many as you can.
One positive aspect of the game is its ability to get people on their feet and exploring communities. Locations of Pokemon are all over the place, and many retail outlets have reacted both positively and negatively to the influx of people wandering around on their phones. But business owners can’t argue the apps ability to move people, and this fact is why we speculate augmented reality could be incorporated over time to different companies.
(On another note, f your business is a Pokestop, consider leveraging your position by creating a promotion. People will continue to come in droves until the fad wears off. But that’s beside the point — we’re trying to think bigger here!)
As soon as the technology becomes more available and usable by the public, whose to say that a restaurant couldn’t lead someone on a treasure hunt for a virtual coupon. Or a pool company could promote a giveaway by having users download an app that reveals a secret location for a prize. As maps get more precise and technology shifts, augmented reality will only have more potential to be a fun, captivating way to engage a younger audience.
The possibilities are endless. Although surely it’s very complicated, all a developer would in theory need is Google Maps and an app that syncs with your camera. If anything, Pokemon Go has reinvigorated the idea that people are willing to move for fun and games. Think about if there were monetary incentives to get the moving in real life.
SteerPoint is a full-service digital marketing agency that helps businesses across the country achieve a greater reach through social media, web development, content creation and SEO techniques. Contact us for your digital marketing needs!
And if you’re asking, we don’t have any Pokemon, but you can always stop by and see us!