Add AR cloud support to FMEAR, to be able to update model(s) on the fly

Have a look at what these guys are doing as well... https://www.openarcloud.org/

What do you reckon @lenaatsafe and @dmitribagh?

Hi @kennyo

it's an interesting scenario. We have done some brainstorming in this direction, however, there is no decision just yet.

There are some challenges:

1. Currently, the model is downloaded into your device to be loaded into FME AR app. You can open a model stored in Google Drive or iCloud, however, the app doesn't work with the original model in the cloud - instead it handles its local copy.
2. From usability point of view: you might have your model location manually adjusted or be in the middle of some kind of process - and suddenly the model reloads... Would you be OK with this?

We can certainly consider some redesign so that #1 will not be a problem. Depending on how you use your AR models, #2 might not bother you. In other words, both "challenges" are not blockers by any means - we can always rethink and redesign.

For your scenario, I wonder if a bit simplified approach would be acceptable. What if we added a button in FME AR UI that is the model cloud URL? You could then click the button any time and get the model reloaded. FME AR can probably be even smarter: it would reload only if the currently loaded model differs from the cloud one.

If the model has expiration date, maybe the button should be disabled till the model expires.

Or would you prefer to get some kind of push notification when the model needs to be reloaded?

I assume that your idea about updating the model from the cloud, by hitting like a reload button would be as close and best that we can get. And as you say, it would be good to get prompted/notified if the model has changed or been updated since you last loaded it.