A bar in the Australian capital, Canberra, claims it will be the first augmented reality-enabled hospitality venue in the country.
Reload Bar and Games, which offers video gaming, will launch the AR features on 8 September, with entry to the event free but only open to those who are 18 and over.
Patrons will be offered hands-on AR demonstrations using Microsoft Hololens and mobile AR.
Ravi Sharma, partner of Canberra-based development company Reload Labs, told iTWire that the use of AR at the bar, which is owned by the Labs, was planned as a means to attract patrons.
{loadposition sam08}It would also be used to advertise products used in the bar and this would be an indirect means of monetisation.
As the venue is a licensed one, Sharma said the age restrictions could not be lifted.
He said the company had created an application that converted real-world surfaces inside Reload Bar into 2D video, 3D holographic animations, retro-gaming challenges and secret free product promotions.
"It is the first implementation of this new generation of AR technology into a hospitality business," Sharma added.
He said AR had great potential. "It’s a broad term that refers to basically any technology that adds a layer to your real world.
"That’s a big advantage over something like virtual reality as it doesn’t require the user to wear a headset that removes them from their current world.
"You can use AR and remain in a conversation or be on the go. It will also be fantastic for physical businesses as it’s essentially a location-based technology."