Arcona Brings Real And Virtual Worlds Together Through Augmented Reality

When visiting the Ginza district of Tokyo, Jeff downloads a shopping map from the local business district. The map contains a QR code for an augmented reality (AR) app that can be used to help guide him through the seemingly chaotic district.

When Jeff looks at the real world through his phone (like he's taking a picture) the app places virtual signs over highlighted shops, places AR billboards on blank walls, and offers discounts at restaurants that are in-app by flashing dollar signs in doorways.

The app allows Jeff to choose a specific ramen restaurant and a large arrow appears over its location. Once inside the restaurant is aware that Jeff used the business district sponsored app and his discount is automatically applied.

This might sound futuristic, like a scene from Minority Report, but recent games like PokemonGo! have shown that the world is ready for augmented reality. Arcona is a blockchain based project that will facilitate the transition from simple games to full-scale daily integration.

TL;DR - Arcona

Arcona is integrating the virtual world with the physical world by creating a platform for digital land ownership in an augmented reality layer on top of Earth.

The platform is a peer-to-peer network that includes a Digital Land Registry, marketplace, cross-platform AR viewer, and an automated system for geospatially organizing the AR layer. The Arcona mapping technology will let landowners build AR content in real-world locations without having the need to visit them.

All land parcels in the Arcona AR layer will be auctioned off in the first three months after the token sale. When the auctions are complete land will only be able to be leased or purchased on the open market.

The Augmented Reality Market

BIS Research conducted a study on the Augmented Reality market and found that it was estimated to be worth $3.8 billion in 2017. This number is impressive but the expected market by 2025 is $198 billion which dwarfs today's amount.

These billion dollar numbers occurred in less than one year after augmented reality was introduced to the masses through PokemonGo. The AR game generated revenue of greater than $250 million in less than two months and was the app was downloaded by over 100 million people.

The growth of the AR market is due to the lower entry cost when compared to VR and the ability to link the real world with a virtual one. The rapid growth has spurned innovations from Microsoft, Google, and Apple.

All three brands are working on different forms of AR viewers, Microsoft with a Mixed Reality Operating System and HoloLens headset, Google with Tango, and Apple with their ARKit software platform and rumored headgear. Lastly, the AR company Magic Leap is already worth over $4.5 billion and has yet to release a project.

Arcona Puts The Pieces Together

Arcona is a platform that is building an augmented reality layer on top of Earth that will allow digital land to be owned, developed, leased, and used in many other ways.

The platform will provide tools for 3rd party developers and content creators to build using Arcona and to create an interesting and dynamic ecosystem.

The Arcona ecosystem has three main components the Arcona Platform, Marketplace, and Remote Setup Building Kit.

Arcona Platform
At the core of Arcona is the Platform which links real-life locations with the AR world through GIS data, 3D simulation, and artificial intelligence. This technology stack allows Arcona to automatically generate a layer of augmented reality on Earth. This provides builders with a ready-to-use network of markers anchored in the landscape all over the world.

Arcona is a cross-platform solution that will allow all devices to utilize its AR layer. This opens the developer market of Arcona to those working on apps that may only support Android or IOS. It also enables the platform to be future proof, by guaranteeing that additional AR viewers will be compatible.

The Marketplace

The Arcona Marketplace is where digital land parcels are sold, bought, and titles recorded onto the blockchain in what is called the Digital Land Registry. The marketplace is also where landowners purchase content from content makers in order to customize their land.

Landowners can use their land to sell advertising space, create attractions and charge admission, promote brands with AR characters, provide navigational services, and many other possibilities.

The marketplace will also play a large role in the economy of the ecosystem through the sell of devkit licenses to developers and artists and for the lease of server space for uploaded content.

Remote Setup Building Kit
A key differentiator between Arcona and its competitors is that the technology developed by Pilgrim XXI, the precursor to Arcona, can accurately place AR objects remotely in a changing environment.

Arcona will use geospatial data that allows remote sensing to generate digital elevation models. The built-in AI can then construct textured virtual 3D landscapes in high detail.

This will allow landowners to develop their land by accurately placing content without the need for human surveyors. With remote positioning, the AR marketplace becomes accessible to all without having to leave your current location.

The Roadmap

The roadmap of Arcona actually begins in 2014, when Pilgrim XXI launched the first AR theme park, the Ludza Castle It. This park has attracted over 60,000 visitors per year and is one of the main reason why the company was awarded a Microsoft grant the same year.

By late 2017 eight AR theme parks were launched in six countries. The next step in the roadmap is the token sale which is currently live.

After the token sale, the Arcona Marketplace will be created (Q2-2018) and will allow content creators to sell their content and will also enable land title transactions. The remainder of 2018 will be dedicated to implementing the AR Viewer and AR Grid positioning tools.

In 2019 the 10 largest metropolitan areas in the world including Barcelona, New York, London, and Tokyo should be geomapped.

Blockchain & The Token

The Arcona Token is the internal currency of the Arcona ecosystem and will be used for all payments on the platform. The main purpose of the token is to buy land.

Land auctions will occur for token-holders (from the token sale) for the first three months. After that time land will have to be leased or purchased on the open market.

The token will also be used to incentivize partners and as a reward for users during different testing phases.

Arcona is implementing the blockchain in the traditional sense, as a ledger system. The blockchain will act as a Digital Land Registry by holding immutable proof of land ownership. All Arcona token transactions and smart contracts will also be executed on the Ethereum blockchain.

The Team

The team is made of Pilgrim XXI employees (except the ICO Analyst). The team is extremely experienced in AR development and product execution as can be seen by the creation of 8 AR theme parks.

The team does not appear to have blockchain or smart contract coding experience. The team will use 22% of the funds from the token sale on software development which is likely to include some blockchain space experience.

Overall

Arcona is entering an emerging market with huge potential for growth. The VR project Decentraland auctioned off 36,000 land parcels in December 2017 and earned what is worth +$18 million (the land auction is different than the token sale).

With Arcona integrating AR into the real world provides an even greater ability to monetize land than that of a VR equivalent. This is because advertisements do best when they are targeted and located near the service or good they provide. AR will let landowners place advertisements in high traffic tourist areas, driving customers to local businesses.

In addition, the low cost of participating in AR and the link between real and virtual worlds is of high interest to consumers. Arcona will give users those extras and will allow providers to be rewarded in the process.

How to Participate in Arcona

If you would like to buy land on the Arcona platform during a land auction you have to participate in the token sale. If you are interested in other uses of the Arcona Platform that require tokens they will be available for purchase on exchange at a later time

📅ICO Date: May 15, 2018.
📈Token Ticker: Arcona
💵Token Price: 0.0025 ETH per Arcona
Total Supply at TGE: 135 million Arcona
Hardcap: $25 million
Amount for Sale: 60%
Token Type: ERC20

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This post contains a project overview not investment advice. As always do your own research before participating in a project of any fashion.