This Augmented Reality App Could Change the Way We Shop Online

AUSTIN — Have you ever been shopping for something like a couch or TV and just refused to bite the bullet because you didn't know if the item would fit or look right in your home? This is a common problem for ecommerce sites like eBay, Walmart and Amazon — the conversion rates on larger items is lower than, say, books or housewares because you can't "try them on" to ensure they're the one for you. Why would you buy the item and pay for shipping if there's a good chance you'll end up having to return it?

Enter Augment, an Android and iOS app which uses augmented reality to let you visualize how products will look in your home. If you want to see a product in your environment, just click the "try it on" button on Augment-connected ecommerce sites, and Augment will open and overlay the "item" anywhere you point your smartphone or tablet camera. You can push the item far away, bring it closer, push it flush against the wall or rotate it. The app intends to minimize the risk of buying large items — you know exactly how it will fit into your space and how it'll look — and this technology could be a huge boon for ecommerce sales.