Some companies see virtual and augmented reality as a way to make money from a new type of ads.
Founder and CEO Kevin Hart describes what the company has been showing off at the SXSW festival this week: a computer-generated drone seemingly hovering in the air about 20 feet away, with a banner flying below it, visible only when viewed through the camera lens of an iPad. As you move closer to the virtual drone, he says, it will get appropriately larger by taking into account motion sensors on the iPad to determine your location and position, allowing you to walk under and around it.+
A company that has already had some success merging virtual ads with the real world is Blippar. A smartphone app created by the company can be used to view sponsored augmented-reality content, such as virtual footballers on Pepsi cans, or virtual nail polish shades from Maybelline.