WWF Free Rivers

Q: Why not make this an app that allows you to manipulate the screen with just your fingers alone? A: Because then it wouldn’t have augmented reality. Q: Why not make it so it doesn’t have to access your camera? A: Because then it wouldn’t have augmented reality. The biggest selling point of this app is that it allows you to try out AUGMENTED REALITY. If not for that feature, most people (including myself) would never have downloaded it. This is the first AR app I’ve ever used, and the chance to try out AR on my device is the reason I (and many others, no doubt) downloaded it. In the process, I learned a few things about dams and their impact on the environment. For the WWF, that’s a win. No, this is not an app you’re going to use for months and years. You’re going to explore it, maybe show it to some family and friends that haven’t seen AR before and then delete it when the newness if it all wears off. It’s sort of a proof-of-concept demo for AR that takes advantage of the relative newness of the technology to get a message across to people. Maybe in a year or so AR will be old hat for everyone and that window of opportunity will have closed for the WWF.

I think this app is a beautiful demonstration of the negative effects that growing civilizations can have on natural processes. I enjoyed the fact I had to get out of my chair and actually go close with the camera to see the whole environment and interactive with all the people/animals. There was slight lag when you would get up close to the river but it was slight and nothing to complain about or leave a bad review. Overall the experience was great and I’m glad I got to interact with the storytelling.

First of all I’d like to make it clear to those who are complaining that this app is still one month old, means coming across bugs is expected. The idea is very good but the storytelling is very short. The major thing that needs to be fixed is camera stability; you can see that for yourselves, the map keeps moving even with the camera is sit still. Creatures are objects, nothing is moving except for a few animals but moving in the same place, that could be changed and would give a huge push towards the interactive environment. Also a cave system would be a nice addition since we can look under the ground, so maybe add some fossils or anything that could be found under the surface. And I guess everything could be enlarged a little bit, font included. There’s a lot more but it’s gonna be a hard job so I’ll wait for the next update to leave another review. Thank you for wanting to share awareness in an enjoyable way.