Mapbox’s Augmented Reality Is Ready to Change Your Outlook

by Nicole Speciale

Augmented Reality (AR) is a keen point of interest, and with good reason—it is reconfiguring human experience. AR is creating brand new terrain, making it possible for people to experience things like never before. Even certain things we don’t often think twice about—like logging on to check a delivery ETA—will take on a whole new feel.

Augmented Reality has come a long way. Mapbox AR, a location platform developer, now integrates a new range of APIs and developer tools to assist with location-aware AR apps.

So, what does this mean for the consumer experience? Here’s how Mapbox’s new reality-grade offering may be revamping your life in the near future.

Next-Level Trip Planning

Mapbox AR is making it possible to project 3D maps in-home. Users are also able to simultaneously share this immersive experience with another person. Mapbox enables both parties to explore a new area, and mark their points of interest within this 3D map. From there, itinerary adjustments can be made in real-time and instantly become visible. In effect, users are able to experience a desired location before having even departed for the trip.

Mapbox AR enables a more cohesive itinerary planning process in contrast to sifting through search engine results. This innovation can help you plan the best trip for your needs, and takes some guesswork out of compiling an action plan.

Seamless and Safer Ridesharing

For anyone who has almost climbed inside the wrong Uber, or has had a hard time identifying their rideshare in a crowded area, Mapbox has a solution. Through AR implementation, Mapbox is able to project visual indicators to make rideshare pickups clear-cut and seamless. This saves time for both driver and user and creates a safer rideshare experience.

Delivery Tracking, as It Should Be

Mapbox is providing reassurance for online shoppers through a new technology that enables more detailed package tracking. While current tracking systems can provide some helpful info (like approximate drop-off time), Mapbox closes the gap between consumer and parcel location even more.

Through the iPhone’s camera viewfinder, customers can access a 3D AR map that displays a package’s location in real-time. This new method of tracking is so interactive that users will be able to view the delivery truck’s movement as if they are onboard. This not only gives users a more accurate ETA, but also provides an additional sense of security for customers who may wonder if their delivery is where it should be.

Interactive and Immersive City Tours 

Mapbox AR may be the closest thing we have to a time machine. Users can partake in interactive city tours that immerse them into the journeys of historical figures. This technology also enables people to experience past events as they come to life in their surroundings. Whether for leisure or educational purposes, the concept of bringing to life a past era adds a whole new depth to the human experience of space.

Intuitive Navigation

New city exploration just got easier. Often times, navigating the streets of unfamiliar places is tricky, and it is hard for one to know if they are driving past places of potential interest. Coping with the current state of navigation can leave users frustrated—sometimes stranded—and detract from the overall exploration experience. Mapbox AR can assist with removing navigation stress so users can enjoy more of their surroundings and get more out of their travel experiences. Mapbox AR also produces:

• turn-by-turn instructions with arrows along driving path.
• intuitive navigation.
• directions to user-specific spots of interest (coffee shops, dining, retail, etc.).
• 3D buildings, elevation data, and hydrography.

Bottom Line

Augmented Reality presents us with experiences that we have never had before. While not perfect, AR certainly offers innovative ways to address a variety of concerns, and gain new vantage points. Mapbox AR is an interesting and inventive concept in the growing arsenal of AR offerings. With its ability to enhance both safety and enjoyment, Mapbox certainly seems to be responding to a slew of modern requests and concerns.