Augmented Reality

Since there is a high chance that I will be associating myself with Yelp in the coming months I figured why don't I talk about the Yelp app. I'm actually one of the few people left in the U.S. who doesn't have a smart phone because I'm a rather broke college student but everything I've read, viewed, and have heard about the Yelp app is pretty cool.

In 2009 they rather secretly added a feature to their app called augmented reality (AR). It was secretive because Yelp was the first American company to have this feature on their app through I-Tunes and I-Phones. It was also secretive because they didn't talk about it much. If you were on the Yelp app and you happened to shake your phone 3 times then you would have an option to use AR. The phone would use the camera feature and where ever you pointed your phone it gave you a live version of what was going on. Then names of businesses in the direction you were pointing your phone would overlap on the screen. Allowing you tap on a business and then go to their business page on Yelp.

Since then they have added AR GPS and have worked out the bugs. They are continuing to improve this feature on the app and this is allowing them to set the path of innovation. Additionally, the Yelp app is free and is easy to use. Yelpers, as they like to call it can write reviews, chat with other Yelpers and friends, and suggest specific delights are specific bars and restaurants. Yelp isn't only for foodies though, it's for all local businesses from home repair, tanning salons, barbershops, apparel, bookstores and more. Yelp is a site based on participation and community. Yelp empowers the common people and demands that businesses strive to be the best organization that they can be.
Here is a picture of the AR in action on the Yelp app.