A future of extended reality experiences relies on the ability of innovative engineers, manufacturers, and developers to create incredible new technology.
The rise of new technology for XR hardware and software is fundamental to the future of the industry. One of the companies leading the way for extended reality software development, is Unity.
Known for offering one of the most versatile creative environments for digital innovators, Unity is the go-to platform for many AR, VR, and MR leaders.
The Unity MARS ecosystem is the most recent solution designed by Unity to give developers access to intelligent mixed and augmented reality building opportunities. There’s even a companion app (available in Beta).
Today, we’re going to explore what developers can do with the Unity MARS environment, and why it’s so valuable to the future of XR.
Unity MARS Review: Features
Unity MARS is a development ecosystem which brings sensor and environmental data together into a creative workflow. With this state-of-the-art technology, companies can build clever AR apps capable of understanding context and environmental factors.
With MARS, you can even make apps that are responsive to physical space, perfect for working in a range of locations with any kind of data.
If you’re planning on building immersive training opportunities for your teams or designing a collaborative workforce for the future of virtual work, MARS could help you to accomplish your goals.
This context-aware environment is also ideal for real-time collaboration between professionals on a field and experts in the back office.
Features of MARS from Unity include:
- Purpose-designed UI
- Tools to test experiences inside the Unity Editor
- Runtime logic ready to adapt to the real world
- Real-world data capture on mobile devices
- Companion app for Android and iOS
- WYSIWYG authoring experience
- Intelligent real-world recognition
- Responsive visual authoring
- Fuzzy authoring opportunities
- Webinars and training opportunities
- Multi-platform AR Dev framework
- Free trial (45 days)
Like many of the Unity offerings for the next generation of technology, the MARS environment is also supported from an incredible community of developers.
Forums and webinars are available to provide easy access to the crucial features of the MARS platform. You can even run simulations for faster testing of AR apps or use templates to speed up your time to market.
Unity MARS Review: Features
Unity MARS enables quick and efficient AR development with minimal demands for complex coding. You can design data-oriented applications visually, using pre-existing templates as the foundation for your new tools.
There’s a simulation solution for testing your experiences within the Unity Editor, and accelerating time to market.
Unity MARS ensures businesses of all sizes can create and deliver augmented and mixed reality apps with runtime logic capable of adapting to the real world.
What’s more, the solutions you create will be flexible enough to work across a range of platforms. Some of the key benefits of Unity MARS for augmented reality development include:
- Simple WYSISWYG Authoring: The AR WYSIWYG editor from Unity allows companies to author complex and data-focused applications in a visual environment. There’s a custom window for AR creators, which includes easy-to-use tools, templates, and a clean UI, so you can prototype, test, and visualize AR apps with ease.
- Intelligent real-world context: A sensational query system built into MARS gives apps contextually relevant behaviour according to the surroundings of the user. Developers can pull in all kinds of valuable data, including location information, map data, product data, and object recognition to enhance the AR/MR experience.
- Multiple authoring options: Teams can choose how they want to author their new XR applications in the MARS environment. There’s a procedural authoring system for responsive visual authoring at speed. You can also use “fuzzy authoring” to define guidelines for minimum and maximum measurements of real-world objects.
- Multiplatform framework: You don’t have to recreate your app for multiple environments with Unity MARS. Simply design your responsive app once, test it in the editor in a range of simulated environments, and deploy across multiple platforms. Users can deploy applications across devices like HoloLens and Magic Leap headsets. There’s support for ARKit and ARCore deployment too.
- Extensive support: Unity helps developers from all backgrounds to embrace the benefits of extended reality innovation with a host of support tools. You can find webinars to help you use the MARS solution for specific industry requirements. A community forum is also on-hand to help with answering questions you might have.
Unity also recently introduced a new companion app for the Unity MARS ecosystem in beta mode.
The mobile device app supports companies in reducing iteration time and delivering immersive AR experiences that can run accurately in a host of environments.
The app works on both Android and iOS devices, and It’s great for capturing information in real-time.
Who Needs the Unity MARS Editor?
For companies creating mixed and augmented reality experiences, the MARS editor is an immersive, easy-to-use solution with a low barrier to entry.
Visual authoring processes, extensive support and great templates can launch AR projects into motion with exceptional speed. Plus, you get the benefit of knowing your apps will work in a range of environments.
The MARS editor from Unity also provides companies with the tools they need to bring intelligent real-world recognition into their AR and MR experiences.
With access to data from a range of environments, you can blend the physical and virtual worlds like never before, constantly optimising as you go.
Unity MARS review: Verdict
Suitable for use with many of the leading AR platforms and devices on the market, the Unity MARS editor is one of the most flexible tools for building AR/MR experiences.
Enabling powerful contextual recognition and easy building practices, this technology can help any organisation leverage the era of extended reality.
With everything from templates to version simulations in the same space, your time to market for AR app development can be faster than ever. Plus, you get all the added benefits of the Unity Community, webinars, and guidance to help you.
