Leading Augmented Reality Workshops in 2024
An augmented reality workshop isn’t just an excellent tool for developers and vendors planning to create AR apps. As augmented reality development becomes more accessible, with the rise of intuitive development kits and low-code, no-code solutions, workshops introduce various immersive opportunities.
With workshops, business leaders can empower team members to create and customize AR apps for collaboration, product development, and more. These tools could also help more companies unlock additional revenue streams in the metaverse or enhance customer experience with AR tools.
AR workshops are becoming more valuable as the market for augmented reality continues to grow, expected to reach a value of $375.90 billion by 2031. Many of these educational resources also offer insights into the growing worlds of spatial computing and mixed reality.
Here are some top augmented reality workshop options you can explore in 2024.
What is an Augmented Reality Workshop?
An augmented reality workshop is a fast-paced course that introduces individuals to various aspects of the AR landscape. It can cover augmented reality app development, customization, and more. Workshops can show users how to leverage AR apps on the web and via mobile devices and how to design solutions for AR smart glasses and headsets.
Though these workshops are primarily designed for developers, they can support various individuals in the extended reality landscape. With an augmented reality workshop, business leaders can empower various teams, from product developers to customer service experts, to explore new ways of achieving various goals with immersive tech.
These workshops could even allow companies to take advantage of low-code and no-code platforms, as well as metaverse-as-a-service solutions, to create AR training experiences, customer support apps, and more.
The Prerequisites for Taking an Augmented Reality Workshop
Augmented reality workshops come in various forms, from courses intended to introduce people to the basics of AR development to solutions focused on specific AR tools and frameworks. The prerequisites for these workshops will vary depending on the purpose of the course. However, it can help to have foundational knowledge of:
- AR development tools: Understanding how platforms like Unity, Unreal Engine, and similar solutions work can be helpful when learning about augmented reality. Depending on your needs, you may consider experimenting with developer kits.
- Programming languages: Although there are AR toolkits today that limit the need for programming knowledge, it can help to understand basic programming languages such as C#, Java, JavaScript, and Python.
- 3D Modelling: Students interested in creating AR apps should have a basic knowledge of 3D modeling and using 3D modeling software. However, most workshops will include a brief overview of how to use these resources.
- UX Design: Experience with user experience design will help individuals create intuitive, accessible interfaces and experiences. Combining this knowledge with an understanding of the essential elements of extended reality technology, such as spatial computing and mapping, can also be helpful.
- Access to AR-enabled hardware: To test applications and tools, individuals should have access to AR hardware, such as a smartphone with AR capabilities, smart glasses, or an AR/VR headset.
The Best Augmented Reality Workshops for 2024
Ultimately, the ideal Augmented Reality workshop will vary depending on your specific needs. If you’re simply training team members on how they should interact in the metaverse and with augmented reality tools, you may want to use the training services provided by your chosen platform.
If you’re empowering team members to create and customize their AR apps, you’ll need to consider which tools and resources they’ll use when choosing the right workshop.
Here are some of the most popular options available in 2024.
1. Coursera/Daydream: Introduction to Augmented Reality
Created by Google Daydream in collaboration with Coursera, the Introduction to Augmented Reality and ARCore workshop is a beginner-level course. It teaches students how to use standard tools for AR development, like Google’s own ARCore kit.
This 10-hour course, split into four modules, is free to users with a Coursera Plus plan and teaches individuals how to build augmented reality experiences from scratch. You’ll learn about the basics of tools like Google Poly and Unity and explore popular use cases for AR.
This could be an excellent course for business leaders who want to introduce employees to the potential of augmented reality and empower them to design their apps with simple tools.
2. Coursera/Meta: Meta AR Developer
The Meta AR Developer workshop is a six-course series for individuals who want to develop versatile AR experiences. Participants learn how to use Meta Spark AR to test and optimize effects, push content to a range of platforms, and build AR applications with JavaScript and Blender.
You’ll learn how to design AR experiences in Unity, important and animate 3D content, and design comprehensive immersive experiences. This could be an excellent solution for companies who want to empower advertising and marketing teams to create AR experiences for customer engagement.
3. Coursera/Meta: Foundations of AR
Another popular augmented reality workshop produced by Meta in collaboration with Coursera, the Foundations of AR, is perfect for beginners. It offers insight into how augmented reality works and how to use Meta’s AR tools. Intended for complete beginners, this is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn about things like computer vision and AR software development.
It’s also an excellent course for any company looking to increase adoption of augmented reality technologies in the workplace. The foundational course provides valuable insights into how AR works, what it can do, and different use cases.
4. Tandon School of Engineering: AR/VR Development
Produced by the Tandon School of Engineering, this course is intended for budding developers or companies. The course takes seven months and teaches students how to leverage XR to build experiences, customize 3D graphic assets, and more.
You’ll learn to build foundational skills with Unity, apply C# programming to Unity components, and design workflows in the XR development ecosystem. You may even be able to create your interactive virtual environment for immersive collaboration.
5. MIT xPro: Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
The augmented reality workshop offered by MIT xPro is an excellent option for companies that want to explore the benefits of building their own augmented reality or VR apps. With this course, you’ll discover how to present the benefits of extended reality to different stakeholders and gain practical experience with development tools. You’ll also be able to expand your knowledge of XR system elements, and apply concepts to an app prototype.
This professional course could give business leaders and employees the tools to develop more compelling AR experiences for customer service, training, and collaboration. Plus, it offers access to a range of case studies to help guide early-stage XR adopters.
6. Udemy/Protech Academy: Create Your Own AR Application
If you’re looking for a straightforward augmented reality workshop that will teach you how to design AR experiences using free tools, this Udemy course is ideal. It’s great for those who need an introduction to augmented reality and its workings.
You’ll also learn how to create augmented reality “cubes,” experiment with different devices, and create unique experiences. All you need is an Android smartphone or iPhone, Windows or Mac computer system, and a willingness to learn to get started. This is a great course for anyone interested in learning about AR technology.
7. Coursera/ University of Michigan: Extended Reality for Everyone
Another excellent beginner-level course for AR enthusiasts, the Extended Reality for Everyone course, was designed by Michael Nebeling from the University of Michigan. This augmented reality workshop only takes two months and introduces students to all of the key applications, concepts, and technologies used in extended reality.
You’ll learn about the issues and challenges people face when creating experiences in extended reality and gain the fundamental skills you need to start developing. Plus, there are plenty of valuable insights into tools like Unity and Unreal.
8. Udemy: Build 15 Augmented Reality Apps
If you’re searching for an augmented reality workshop that will allow you to start instantly designing mobile apps for iPhones and Android, this is the course for you. You’ll learn how to create a wide range of apps for customer service and support, sales, marketing, and more. Plus, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes insight into the Unity platform.
This is a handy course for any company planning to use AR to elevate interactions with customers, stakeholders, and employees. You’ll even learn how to create augmented reality business cards and use tools like Vuforia to unlock new levels of engagement.
9. Udemy: Augmented Reality with Unity
If you’re already exploring the benefits of augmented reality for marketing, customer experience, and collaboration using a tool like Unity, try this AR workshop. The beginner-friendly guide shows you how to make the most of the Unity editor. Plus, you’ll learn how to push apps you create to both Android and iOS so you can make experiences accessible to anyone.
There are plenty of great modules included, exploring everything from building AR experiences for mobile devices to using GPS and compass tools and accessing 3D object recognition. You don’t need to be a game developer or designer to benefit from this course. Any company looking to benefit from AR experiences will get plenty of insights here.
Why Take an Augmented Reality Workshop?
An augmented reality workshop can be a valuable educational resource for all kinds of employees, not just mobile app developers. These courses can benefit any company planning to leverage extended reality and the metaverse for collaboration, product design, or customer experience.
On a broader level, business leaders who take these courses will also gain a deeper insight into how augmented reality works. This can help supervisors and managers design training strategies that boost the adoption of AR apps among employees.
It can also pave the way for stronger conversations with stakeholders about the opportunities offered by AR app development. At the very least, taking any courses above will give you a deeper understanding of the AR and XR space.
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