It came as a surprise that there is a wide range of software that enables creatives, including those like myself with little experience in the field, to design augmented reality (AR) experiences. One of those I came across was Lens Studio. As part of my personal challenge for this module, to design augmented reality aspects for our group exhibition, I will be required to learn such software alongside experimenting with others such as Adobe Aero and Hiro (AFrame).
Simply put, Lens Studio allows people to create their own AR filters for the Snapchat platform, a sort of co-creation software. These “lenses” can not be used outside of the Snapchat application, however, this limitation could be overlooked thanks to the benefit of this software being free. Through my initial experimentation with the software, making a face mask and planet-like objects, I am becoming aware of the "hard skills" I am developing in regards to using the software. Skills that before were nonexistent and skills that can only grow further as I progress through this project. The depth of these "hard skills" however will vary depending on the software I invest the majority of my time on. For example, for a relatively new software such as Adobe Aero, I do not believe I will learn skills that are much more than the basics as this is all that the software is built for at the present moment. However, if I invest in Lens Studio, this software will build "hard skills" in the specifics of the software, for example, the "Objects" and "Resources" panels and how to work with those in the most effective and efficient methods. How would these skills be used outside of Lens Studio, however? Are other skills aside from the basics such as working with the X, Y and Z axis of objects transferable?
As I continue to explore the field of augmented reality and the software that enables it, I am faced with the realisation that I must quickly become accustomed to the tools, interfaces and features of each of the software I am experimenting with. In addition to the relatively small time frame for the project, it means that I must be decisive when it comes to the latter end of the project and the production of the final pieces and, more importantly, the software in which I will invest my remaining time to create the functionalities of the experiences. Lens Studio, after initial tests and experimentation, I believe, will be a strong software for the end results thanks to its ease of use and efficiency, the limitation with the publication of the experience only being in Snapchat itself, however, does not entirely sit well with me. Although the demographic of Snapchat users match up with a portion of our target audience, 13-29-year-olds with 62% of the demographic using the application, I do not think this gives a professional impression. And although Snapchat boasts 210 million daily users in Quarter 4 of 2019 with 67 million of these users being in the UK, ("Snapchat statistics 2020 | Smart Insights", 2020) and enables the sharing capability built-in and the possibility of this being a strong addition to the social media side of the projects, I am at the mercy of the company to allow for the continued publication of the lenses, which in turn could mean that the sustainability of the augmented reality experience is compromised.
So far I happy that I have undertaken this challenge as I believe that it is not the volume of knowledge gained through the process, but the quality of the skill set I develop from it. How will gaining the knowledge of working in this software and the user interface and user interaction design field impact my projects moving forward? Could this be taken further, thanks to the major project being a double-weighted module where I have more time available, could I explore more of the field including smartwatches and tablets for example?
References:
Snapchat statistics 2020 | Smart Insights. Smart Insights. (2020). https://www.smartinsights.com/social-media-marketing/social-media-strategy/snapchat-statistics/.
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