Sara Bruszt | Fizz: AR drinking app

 
Fizz is an augmented reality application designed for bars with the goal of providing an entertaining experience thereby increasing revenues. The participating bar will offer a “surprise cocktail” meaning a cocktail with unknown ingredients to the guests. The guest orders the surprise cocktail and upon receiving it launches the mobile application on their mobile device. The instruction, “Scan the coaster to find ingredients”, pops up on the screen. The user scans the coaster, with their mobile phone for information about the surprise cocktail.
The coaster provided is specifically designed for Fizz and uniquely is placed on top of the glass containing the cocktail prompting that the user should scan it before tasting the drink. Upon scanning the coaster, information regarding the surprise ingredients pops up on the mobile phone’s screen. This information is presented in the form of 3D models representing the ingredients such as mixers, fruits, type of alcohol or other garnishments. In the case of the demo, these are “orange slice”, “baiju”, “mint leaves” and “pomegranate juice” and the name of the drink it “Shanghai Twist” also shows up in form of 3D text that has a matching font and color with the coaster scanned. These augmented reality objects are all clickable and upon tapping on the the user reads their names that pop up on the user interface. The bar staff adds information regarding the surprise drink every day so that these names and ingredients are completely customizable.
Fizz caters to young adult bar-goers. This target audience enjoys using technology and is interested in combining technology with every activity in their lives. In addition, they are as well interested in combining the act of going out with new technology. Today bars already incorporate technology in their design, such as lights, music, screens, etc, and there are already several drinking and “going out” mobile applications that people use to find bars, read the ratings of them, get discounts, collect points, etc. Several other hospitality institutions incorporate augmented reality technology as well. For example, the fast-food chain McDonald’s uses augmented reality for marketing purposes. However, augmented reality is not yet used in cocktail bars.
Fizz is based on the idea of experience marketing theory, which means that people are not only interested in the final product of purchase but also in other elements of the process of purchase. Especially millennials, who are more likely to spend on on experience than products. They go to a bar to experience it instead of consuming the same drink at home with friends. As this generation especially enjoys technology and always has their devices in hand, Fizz will attract more people to the participating bars.
With engaging 3D models and pop-up interface, Fizz will add a surprise element into the drinking process. Given the fact that the guest of bars already have mobile phones in hand implementing the technology will be fast and easy for the bars. The current version of Fizz is a demonstration of the concept and shows the idea well and so that it can be pitched to bars.