# Software Packages

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This is a **Work in Progress Article** 
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## Unity and Vuforia

### Unity

Unity is a cross-platform game engine, compatible with Windows, Linux and OSX.  

Unity is available with three licensing packages. Unless your application is going to be monetised, we generally recommend to use the Personal (Free) Plan, available for download [here](https://store.unity.com/download?ref=personal): 

{% embed url="<https://store.unity.com/download?ref=personal>" %}

| Pro                                                                    | Plus                                           | Personal                                                                                        |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| $125 USD per month                                                     | $25 USD per month                              | Free                                                                                            |
| "For professionals and studios"                                        | "For Hobbyists"                                | <p>Only available if your <br>revenue or funding does not <br>exceed $100 000 USD per year.</p> |
| Priority access to new features, support, cloud storage and 20% assets | Cloud storage, limited customer support access | No additional training, support or services.                                                    |

### Vuforia Augmented Reality Engine

The Vuforia Engine is a market-leading mixed-reality engine used to make AR apps. The Vuforia engine is essentially the brain of these applications, which utilise Object or Target recognition which allow you to create custom experiences for mixed reality.&#x20;

A camera recognises and tracks a target in the physical world. This triggers the display of digital content.

![Figure 0.0 - Vuforia and Object Recognition (Source: Vuforia Library)](/files/-LYe6BWae6pDBdo9oZHp)

### &#x20;Overview

| Unity and Vuforia  |                                                                                                 |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Most Suited To     | <p>Content / App Creation / Development</p><p></p><p>Best Used for Extended AR Applications</p> |
| Use Environment    | Requires a machine with Unity                                                                   |
| Hardware Platforms | HoloLens, Android, iOS                                                                          |

| Category              | Rating    |
| --------------------- | --------- |
| Ease of Learning      | ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
| Flexibility           | ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ |
| Recommended Knowledge | Unity, C# |

{% content-ref url="/pages/-LXv-riADY-4etl1Lvfx" %}
[Unity and Vuforia](/next-lab/augmented-reality/guides/unity-and-vuforia-1.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/-LXv-vbQ2CdsbNqz\_lzh" %}
[Creating a Simple AR App](/next-lab/augmented-reality/guides/unity-and-vuforia-1/vuforia-primer.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

## Fologram for Rhino

Fologram is a plug-in for Rhino3D and Grasshopper developed in Melbourne. It is most suited to quickly displaying Rhino information in a physical environment - grasshopper can be used to create interactive applications.

| Fologram for Rhino |                                                                                                 |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Most Suited To     | <p>Content / App Creation / Development</p><p></p><p>Best Used for Extended AR Applications</p> |
| Use Environment    | Requires a machine with Rhino                                                                   |
| Hardware Platforms | Microsoft HoloLens, Mobile (iOS and Android)                                                    |

| Category              | Rating                |
| --------------------- | --------------------- |
| Ease of Learning      | ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆             |
| Flexibility           | ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆             |
| Recommended Knowledge | Rhino 3D, Grasshopper |

{% content-ref url="/pages/-LXv0FeGiGILRyNUWLeQ" %}
[Fologram](/next-lab/augmented-reality/guides/fologram.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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