AR Research

Image Tracker vs Model tracker
Model tracker make a better target to activate our AR more than Image tracker do, due to it having more dimensions compares with a 2D image for phones or cameras to keep track with, making the AR models less likely to disappear or have glitches. Even though, there is a way to make AR models less likely to run in such issues due to the phones or cameras not being able to see an Image Tracker, by adjusting the settings inside the software. Unfortunately, it will still be prone to having incorrect sizes or dimensions.

However, the only way to trigger an AR app through an object tracker is:


 * 1) Using Unity and Vuforia: a significant problem of using these softwares is that we are very likely to not be able to provide the app to IOS users which stroke down many our potential audiences.
 * 2) Using Web App: by coding the web app and providing the app with a large number of images of our desired object tracker, which requires someone who is knowledgeable with coding and intensive efforts. Hence, it is almost impossible for a team of designer to do.
 * 3) Using Wikitude (wikitude.com): powerful software but it cost at lease 2490 Euro, we did not research any further into this software.

Unity & Vuforia: Using Unity to develop an AR by providing a tracker developed inside Vuforia.
Pros:


 * The team already have experiences working with them
 * Powerful, developed software for making AR and VR

Cons:


 * Process requires users to download an App (too complicated)
 * Complication of Unity different versions, instability and such


 * Must make an IOS developer account for the app to be available for IOS which cost an annual fee of 99 USD
 * Requires scripting for interactions
 * Vuforia commercial usage right cost 499 USD per app and 99 USD monthly for using its cloud server

Unity & AR Toolkit Using Unity to develop an AR by providing a tracker developed inside AR Toolkits.
Pros:


 * The team already have experiences working with Unity
 * Powerful, developed software for making AR and VR
 * AR Toolkits is free to use for commercial, but we must acknowledge our use of the software under its license corresponding to each of its version

Cons:


 * Process requires users to download an App (too complicated)


 * Must make an IOS developer account for the app to be available for IOS which cost an annual fee of 99 USD
 * Requires scripting for interactions
 * Complication of Unity different versions, instability and such
 * Object tracker option is not available

Web App: Programming an AR app web with AR.js and A- frame
Pros:


 * Does not require users to download an App but through accessing an internet link

Cons:


 * Requires knowledge of coding and programming skills.


 * The server bandwidth might not be enough for a lot of people to access the app
 * Object Tracker option requires intensive efforts to make available

Spark AR: A filters developing program developed for Facebook and Instagram
Pros:


 * Does not requires users to download an App but through accessing Facebook or Instagram
 * Facebook and Instagram are very popular social media networks among Vietnamese audiences
 * They have a good image tracker AR option
 * Interaction does not require scripting abilities but through the use of nodes

Cons:


 * Object tracker option is not available
 * Software is not professionally developed
 * Commercial/ Promotional Policy is a little bit confusing
 * Uploading process is somewhat complicated, the approval process can take up to maximum 10 days

Lens Studio: A filters developing program developed for Snapchat
Pros:


 * Does not requires users to download an App but through accessing Snapchat

Cons


 * Could not find any mentions of Commercial/ Promotional Policy in their terms for usage outside of US


 * Snapchat is not popular among Vietnamese audiences, which could mean the users might have to download snapchat which make it too complicate again.

Why Spark AR for Plan A?
Being able to reach a wide range of audiences through Facebook or Instagram is its best-selling point. In addition, there are no coding required in order to make an AR effect, users don’t have to download an App and it is available for both Android and IOS users.

Further research on Spark AR
The criteria for a tracker image in Spark AR are different compared to Unity and Vuforia:

A good tracker image in Spark AR must have the following characteristics:


 * High Contrast, High resolution
 * Sharp details
 * Must not be symmetrical
 * Complexity


 * Must have clear shapes
 * Must be on a flat surface
 * Avoiding blank spaces around the images
 * In real world, target image must have a large enough size

Effects have a size limit, for Facebook, it is best if it’s under 2 MB, but it can be up to 10 MB; For Instagram it should be under 4 MB.

It is recommended that:

There should not be more than 50 objects inside the effect

Every object must not have more than 20,000 polygons

Object must be between the size of 1 cm to 5 meters

Maximum size for a texture is 1024 x 1024 if it’s any bigger it will be resized.

Our AR filters can only be uploaded on either Facebook or Instagram not both

The Approval time of uploading a filter can take up to 10 days, they have the complete right to refuse our effect publication.

When uploading we must make a Demo video explaining the use of our filter, using Instagram Len, and without going through any other programs or edits.