In the US Best Buy has just launched Best Buy in 3D, an augmented reality application that allows users to see in 3D the products advertised on the retailer weekly publication.

I don't have a webcam (as you can see from the brilliant message below) so I cannot test it and appreciate its features. However I find augmented reality shopping very cool for an ecommerce website, where you have to do your best to make people "feel" and "touch" the product. If there is not e-commerce module attached, and the consumers in the end has to visit a store to purchase the good, then I'm not so sure an AR application real value is worth the effort (both for the retailer and for the consumer).

Though the concept had potential, I was unimpressed with the execution. It's good to see companies experimenting with AR though, because it just means that the technology will get better and people will get used to seeing the symbol and will know what to do with it.

Posted by: Cory O'Brien at August 3, 2009 05:43 AM