As much as restoration is an important part of preserving historic structures over the years, it can put a damper on one's travels, especially when it comes to taking photos of a special landmark—Snapchat's new AR lens acknowledges this and offers a fun way for locals and tourists alike to interact with Big Ben over the holidays.
Big Ben is currently concealed from view due to restoration work but Snapchat is using the power of augmented reality to connect Snapchat users to the tower in all of its former—and future—glory. Those in London are now able to use the app to virtually peel away the scaffolding, reveal the tower and encase it in a virtual snowglobe that's superimposed with festive greetings.
To make the interactive experience all the more fun, Snapchat also integrated sounds to mimic the clock's chimes and when the front-facing camera is used with a face in the frame, facial recognition technology adds Union Jack top hats to selfies.
What's Driving This Trend
- Augmented Reality Restoration
- The use of augmented reality technology to virtually restore landmarks opens up opportunities to engage with historical sites in a dynamic and interactive way.
- Virtual Travel Experiences
- The integration of virtual elements into real-world locations allows users to virtually visit and interact with landmarks that may be temporarily inaccessible or undergoing restoration.
- Interactive Social Media Filters
- By incorporating sound effects and facial recognition technology into augmented reality filters, social media platforms can enhance user engagement and provide unique and shareable experiences.
Who This Affects Most
- Travel and Tourism
- Using augmented reality to offer virtual travel experiences can provide opportunities for the tourism industry to attract and engage with visitors, even when physical access to certain landmarks is limited.
- Technology and Software Development
- The development of augmented reality filters and applications presents opportunities for software developers to create innovative and immersive experiences for users.
- Photography and Social Media
- The integration of augmented reality features in social media platforms offers new possibilities for photographers and content creators to capture and share unique and visually appealing content.
