spatialcomputing.info

If I have a function (a model or a system) that can see a visual scene (an image, a video, or a live camera stream) and augment some information over it after running some image understanding (for example, see a dining menu, look up Yelp, overlay rating; or meet a person, look up LinkedIn, overlay their profile), what is the easiest and the fastest way to ship this as a product to consumers?

That is, 1) Given: A function (a model or a system) that receives an image as input and outputs some arbitrary information, 2) Without: Any frontend (web app, mobile app, chatbot, etc) made at the moment, 3) Looking for: The method with least time, least effort, least cost to provide the function to a consumer who has no technical skills.

I can make a web app, a mobile app, or a chatbot, but would prefer not to invest my time into frontend as it is not my focus. That is, instead of building an iPhone or an Android app, I’d prefer making a Facebook chatbot that receives an image and outputs a text and image (but I guess it cannot handle complex output like a custom HTML) since it’d take less time, and I can provide a link to the chatbot to any consumers.

Let me know how you like to ship your AR apps!

Please bare with me as I don’t know what I want to know.

1. Where to start in AR? What to read, watch, research, follow?
2. What is the scope and project workflow/pipeline in general? Inside the app (how it interacts with the world), and outside (considering OS, glasses?). What is the process of developing?
3. How to choose between Unreal/Unity? Are the the best choices? and How do they interact with ArKit and ArCore?
4. What type of programming language do I need to learn? And are the visual assets created inside the softwares or should they be made in seperate softwares (like AE or Cinema4D), and what is the ratio between coding:visuals.
5. How the product get tested before launching? Is there a software or some kind of support in OS to test beforehand?
6. In your opinion, career-wise, what is the projection for the demand of such area? And starting from 0 how many months/years would it take to start making money out of it? What can I do extra to speed up the process?

Please feel free to share any information/experience you have.

P.s I have no experience in software/app developement at all – other than some programming courses back in university. My professional background is video editing/motion graphics/design for 6 years, but I feel like a career shift is due.

Thanks!

I’m working on a self-guided walking tour of a historic district in my city. I want residents and visitors to be able to use their phones to trigger the opening of a webpage that displays information about buildings and other physical features in the district. I thought about using QR codes, but that would involve the lengthy and tedious process of getting permission from property owners to affix a QR code to their property. Instead, I want to use a DIY AR program, such as Overly, ZapWorks, or Amazon Sumerian, to allow tourists to take a photo of a physical feature (i.e. a doorknob or window) that would trigger the opening of an informational webpage… or something like that 🙂

Does anyone have tips? What’s the best program to use? I have a grant available in case the program is a little costly. My top priorities are that it’s easy (easy for me to build with little programming knowledge) and secure (secure for tourists).