Augmented reality isn’t just a gimmick, it is a powerful tool waiting for worthwhile applications and creative development. Here is one great example from the USPS which proves this. The USPS Priority Mail Simulator is a helpful tool to estimate which size flat-rate box you should use (or order) to mail your stuff.
Just print the USPS Eagle tag at full size, launch the simulator, place the tag on your desk and stack your outbound belongings on top of the piece of paper, adjusting the size box and its transparency on the simulator to see which box is the perfect fit. I could see this application moving mobile at some point, but for now it works great the way it is. Being one click away from ordering the box you just simulated gives USPS an edge as well.
Perhaps it takes some of the fun out of seeing how much stuff you can cram into a mailer, perhaps it doesn’t apply to individuals or companies with stacks of every size box at their disposal, but haste makes waste, and for those looking for the answers to life’s shipping questions, this is an astounding tool to size up your goods before shipping them out.
Tags: Augmented Reality, simulator, usps