Most AR/XR content online assumes you have:
- ARCore / ARKit
- flagship devices
- fast internet
- app store distribution
But I’m building from a different reality.
I’m an XR/AR developer and product strategist based in Nigeria, studying Computer Science at Babcock University. I’ve been exploring how spatial computing can work in environments where those assumptions don’t hold.
So instead of native apps, I use browser-based AR (mainly AR.js) powered by QR codes.
No installs.
No app store friction.
Just scan → open → experience.
This post is a quick overview of what I’m currently building and exploring.
Why WebAR instead of native AR?
In my context, distribution matters more than features.
If users need to:
- download an app
- sign up
- or have high-end hardware
…it already limits adoption heavily.
But if they can:
scan a QR code and instantly see something in AR
then the barrier drops significantly.
That single constraint changes how I design everything.
1. Cultural Headwear AR (Try-on + Cultural Discovery)
Traditional African headwear carries deep cultural meaning, but most of it is lost in static images.
So I started thinking:
What if each item could become interactive?
Each headwear piece becomes a digital object with:
- AR try-on in browser
- cultural meaning + origin
- 3D preview
- QR-linked social filters (Snapchat, TikTok)
Tools like Snapchat and TikTok already make distribution easy.
So the idea is simple:
attach meaning + interaction directly to physical objects.
Use cases:
- fashion brands
- cultural exhibitions
- tourism boards
- markets and vendors
2. CakeView — AR Cake Ordering
One problem I keep seeing in local bakeries:
Customers can’t visualize what they are ordering.
Everything happens through:
- WhatsApp chats
- reference images
- repeated corrections
So I explored a different flow:
- Scan QR code
- Open 3D cake catalog
- Customize layers, icing, decorations
- Preview in AR on your table
- Send final order directly to baker
The goal is simple:
reduce misunderstanding between customer and baker.
This is less “startup idea” and more B2B tool for small businesses.
3. Tourism AR — Turning Posters into Experiences
Most tourism content is static:
posters, flyers, brochures.
I wanted to change that.
With image tracking (AR.js), a printed poster becomes a trigger:
- waterfalls animate
- wildlife appears
- cultural landmarks emerge in 3D
A simple scan turns marketing into experience.
Potential users:
- tourism boards
- festivals
- museums
- airlines
This works especially well because it doesn’t require apps — just a camera.
4. AR Food Menus — Spatial Ordering
Food menus are still mostly flat images.
But ordering food is actually a visual decision.
So I explored two ideas:
A. Conversational AR Menu
Scan QR → chat-style menu → select dish → see it in AR on your table
B. Immersive Dish View
Single dish focus:
- 3D preview
- description
- price
- order button
Why this matters:
better visualization = higher confidence = higher order value
This is especially relevant for small restaurants competing on trust.
What I’m really interested in (long-term)
Beyond commerce, I’m very interested in teleoperation and remote exploration.
XR becomes powerful when it stops being just visualization and becomes interaction with real remote environments.
That includes:
- robotics control
- industrial systems
- underwater exploration
- remote learning environments
One area I keep coming back to is marine exploration.
Imagine:
- students in Lagos exploring the ocean floor in real time
- museums streaming live underwater ROV feeds
- researchers collaborating remotely on ocean data
With consumer ROVs and better connectivity, this is becoming more realistic than it sounds.
Why I’m sharing this
None of these are “finished products.”
They’re early-stage explorations.
But I’ve found it more useful to share thinking early rather than waiting for polished outputs.
Because in spatial computing, a lot of the interesting work isn’t just technical.
It’s:
- distribution
- access
- context
- and real-world constraints
If you’re building in:
- AR / XR / WebAR
- creative tech
- tourism systems
- food commerce tools
- or remote exploration infrastructure
I’d love to connect and learn what you’re working on.
