An impressive new offering from JCPenny and Seventeen Magazine allows teenager to virtually try on clothes via a markerless augmented reality shopping website without any of the hurdles of their predecessors. Utilizing technology from metaio, the “virtual dressing room” simply allows the user to stand in front of the PC without any special printed markers, and the image recognition algorithms take over from there and overlay the selected items of clothes over the display.
“The application is a true breakthrough in online product visualization, as clothes are automatically overlaid on the consumer`s real-time video image through their webcam,” said Kristine Welker, vice president of sales and marketing for Hearst Magazines Digital Media. “With the help of our exclusive retail partner JCPenney, the virtual dressing room makes online shopping easy and viral: with a simple wave of a hand, shoppers can select, rate and share their top picks with friends via Facebook or email, and even purchase the items directly from jcp.com.”
An impressive use of Augmented Reality, and a huge win for markerless AR. Full press release after the break.
Hearst Magazines Digital Media and metaio Premier World`s First Markerless Augmented Reality Online Shopping Experience on Seventeen.com
Exclusively sponsored by JCPenney, shopping application enables consumers to try on clothes and buy right from home
SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW YORK (Aug 2, 2010) – Hearst Magazines Digital Media and metaio, a leader in augmented reality applications, today announced that the two companies have launched the first ever markerless augmented reality online shopping application on Seventeen.com. Launching just in time for the Back-to-School season, the “virtual dressing room,” which will be sponsored exclusively by JCPenney, will give users the ability to try on clothes and link to jcp.com to purchase their favorite selections right from their home.
“The application is a true breakthrough in online product visualization, as clothes are automatically overlaid on the consumer`s real-time video image through their webcam,” said Kristine Welker, vice president of sales and marketing for Hearst Magazines Digital Media. “With the help of our exclusive retail partner JCPenney, the virtual dressing room makes online shopping easy and viral: with a simple wave of a hand, shoppers can select, rate and share their top picks with friends via Facebook or email, and even purchase the items directly from jcp.com.”
The experience combines four popular technologies: augmented reality, motion capture, social media and eCommerce. Created in Adobe Flash, the virtual dressing room does not require a plug-in and is very simple to use. Here is how it works: (1) the application detects the shopper in front of his or her webcam at home, (2) the shopper selects the piece of clothing, (3) it overlays the selected piece of clothing to see its style and (4) users can then link to jcp.com to purchase their selections or send to friends via e-mail or Facebook. This is the first instant online dressing room, where the fitting of the clothing happens automatically and within the live-video stream. The shoppers do not need a marker or an upload of a still image. The shoppers can try various outfits by simply pointing at the icons within the app to scan through the digital catalog of clothing pieces, enabled by motion capture technology.
“Teens have long turned to Seventeen as a trusted style authority,” said Mike Boylson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for JCPenney. “Through this unique collaboration with Seventeen.com, we`re able to merge teen`s love of technology and shopping, and provide an interactive experience that allows them to discover the exciting, affordable fashion available at JCPenney.”
“This is the first truly instant online dressing room and as opposed to other augmented reality applications no markers or uploads needed,” said Noora Guldemond, head of sales & marketing for metaio. “We believe this application provides an enhanced interactive online shopping experience for the consumer. We are very excited to be working with Hearst Magazines Digital Media on delivering this unique shopping tool.”
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