Augmented Reality

My professor showed us a very interesting video in class today. It was about how augmented reality was being used by department stores like Macy’s for customers to try on clothes without having to actually try them on!

This was the first time I had ever heard of augmented reality, hence I was kind of amazed with this concept. So, for the less tech-savvy people like me, Wikipedia defines augmented reality as –

“A technology that allows for computer-generated virtual imagery information to be superimposed onto a live direct or indirect real world environment in real time”

I came home from class and immediately looked up to see if augmented reality was being used for cosmetics and I was shocked to find out it was being used since 2009 or early 2010, and I knew nothing about it.

The first ones to use it were obviously the Japanese. No surprise there, right? The leading Japanese brand Shiseido launched a new technology called the Digital Cosmetic Mirror which is basically a computer screen with an embedded camera that scans your face. Then, using the touch screen, you can choose whatever makeup you want to try – from lipstick to mascara, and also try different shades without having the need to go through the trouble of trying one shade, removing it and then trying the other. And all this, in real time!  After this process of trying different cosmetics, you can take a print out of your final choices. This printout gives you details about the shade number and codes of the products you tried on.

It is one thing to have this technology in stores in Japan, but technology goes to a completely new level to have this feature on your phone. And it does exist. In 2010, Modiface came up with an app for iPhone called MakeUp, which basically allowed you to click a picture of yourself using your iPhone and then test different products and different shades belonging to leading brands like Lancome and Cover Girl on yourself.

Now, you can also find features similar to this on websites. O.P.I has something similar on their website where you have an image of a hand. You can adjust the skin tone of the hand and also the nail length to match yours and try out which of their many shades of nail polish would suit you.

It continues to surprise me as to how these new technologies keep emerging. I mean, what can be cooler that virtually trying on makeup?! These advancements however keep me wondering as to what’s next? What does the future hold for us and how much more innovative can it get?  Guess we’ll have to wait and watch, but for now, my mind is officially blown.