Listen to the world around you
Key Takeaways
Remember Foursquare?
You just have to wear your AirPods.
Foursquareclasses Marsbot as a virtual assistant, but apart from restaurant recommendations, what could it be used for?
Apple
Going Out
This is an interesting time to be launching an app based on going out.
Audio AR is a logical next step.
But AR can also be audio.
Foursquare
In fact, many of us are already using it.
Marsbot for AirPods takes this a step further, by adding location-based AR via your ears.
It will pause podcasts, and lower your musics volume when whispering in your ear.
Noam Galai / Getty Images
However, audio and video calls will not be interrupted.
The idea isnt to have a constant barrage of information.
Audio is already much more ambient than visual information.
What Else Can Audio AR Do?
Notably, the majority of examples provided on Foursquares blog post are recommendations for coffee shops and restaurants.
You could leave restaurant and shopping tips, but what else could AR be used for?
You could, for example, create your own virtual city guides.
These could be themed around a particular interest or subculture.
Or how about a virtual art gallery featuring notable graffiti and street art?
More importantly,what about accessibility?
Imagine if shop signs or even menus could be spoken aloud to you when you got up close?
Not turn-by-turn directions, but something that blends into the background.
That would be great for an AR social distancing app.
And if Marsbot can get us used to the idea, thats a win for everyone.
