In this era of mobile computation, it is important to understand how architectural space is continually determined through digital interfaces, as much as it is by its physical counterparts. As computational intelligence strengthens within the domain of augmented reality technology, it becomes vital to understand how people experience physical space through a series of digitally crafted landscapes, and how these digital interfaces can become embedded within architectural design and fabrication.

With the release of ARki 2.0 we made a challenging decision to re-develop the app with the inclusion of a marker-less AR solution, ARkit, versus our previous marker-driven SDK provided by Vuforia. The pro and cons of both solutions were extensive, and we deliberated over this decision tirelessly. However in the end ARkit won, and today I wanted to go over some of our reasons for why we chose to upgrade to ARkit over our beloved Vuforia SDK. 

​The introduction of paper-less AR is a total game changer for ARki visualisations. The ability to bring design propositions to life without the need for printed images, means that ARki is free from the confines of paper printouts, and paper size limitations. Now ARki is able to be explored spatially, on-site, and in any environment that could essentially benefit from an augmented visualisation. The release of ARki 2.0 is the start of our paper-less AR adventures. We are excited to see how this new toolkit allows us to start incorporating AR within the built environment, and at much larger scales than the standard AR experience. 

When we started arki in 2013, the vision was predominantly centred on creating a platform in which people could upload their architectural models, and view these in real-time, easily using Augmented Reality technology. The capacity to create a platform in which people could easily upload data is yet one we aspire to create, although we must clearly overcome certain limitations to do this idea justice. We are asked continually why we have not yet created such a platform, and therefore, I wanted to take some time and reflect on some technical complications we must overcome inorder to create an open platform for architectural AR visualisation.  
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One of the key highlights of ARki is the possibility to include custom interactivity features, for the most engaging visualisation. The options for interactivity within ARki are vast, and we often get asked what sorts of interactive features/animations are available to include?
The type of feature we recommend for each app is usually directly linked to the design agenda, and the story behind each proposition. Highlighting specific features using real-time animations, and toggles, are a great way to communicate the design process and ultimately immerse users with your projects. 

Below are a list of features that we recommend within an ARki experience.