Skrite, an application that allows users to “own the sky” by uploading drawings, selfies, photos, and messages into a user-generated augmented reality (AR) space launched today in Detroit. Though AR is generally dominated by coders and developers, Skrite allows people to leave messages and explore other participants through the localized social network.
Skrites — the pieces of content uploaded to the sky — can only be created in a user’s current location. Skrites are created in zones, with a maximum of 25 Skrites allowed per zone. The first user to create a Skrite in a certain zone gets that area named after them, which gives them virtual ownership of a piece of the sky, be it the airspace above their home, business, or any location that brings value to larger companies that can potentially use the space for advertising.
“We wanted to bring AR to the people,” says Rishab Jain, Skrites’ CEO and co-founder. “Casual users shouldn’t feel augmented reality is off-limits because it seems too complicated or inaccessible. With the right interface, it’s simple to use and is a fantastic way to explore the space around you.”
To explore the sky around them, users simply tilt their smartphone upwards. From there, they can see public Skrites people have left around them as well as private Skrites left by friends. Skrite also offers an augmented reality teleportation experience, giving users a 360-degree view of the selected city and the unique content created by Skrite users in that city.
“Skrite lets you travel without leaving your home through augmented reality teleportation,” says Dr. Arshia Siddique, COO and co-founder of Skrite. “It allows you to experience the places you’ve always wanted to go from the perspective of other travelers, or even from locals who pass through it every day.”
The Skrite app can be downloaded at the Apple App Store here.
