Virtual and augmented reality for configuring, promoting and servicing household appliances

Abstract

In this paper, we present several virtual and augmented reality systems for interactive visualization of household appliances. The presented systems can support the wholesale of series of products configured and then ordered in a manufacturers’ showroom as well as individual sales by enabling customers to visualize different versions of the products in their home setting before making a purchase decision. The system provides also training and support for servicing of household appliances. The visualization software, created with the use of the Unity3D engine, takes advantage of a wide range of visualization hardware, such as a smartphone, an HMD, and a Powerwall, to enable its use in different settings. With the use of the developed solutions, users can configure and manipulate components of virtual home appliances directly in a 3D space. The visualization software, which has been developed in cooperation with Amica S.A. – a major household appliance manufacturer in Poland, can be an important marketing element and an innovation that has the potential to attract new customers.