Seeing Stars in AR with Jadu

As the COVID-19 crisis officially became a global pandemic in March of 2020, a wide range of industries were forced into a (hopefully temporary) shutdown. Though restaurants and bars were known to be hit hard, an industry similarly reliant on in-person experiences, the performing arts, was also crippled. Many musicians turned to live streams to continue performing. Others focused on isolation recording projects. But a handful turned to Augmented Reality in an attempt to keep alive the personal connection between artist and audience.

Jadu, Your Idol, and You

Los Angeles-based AR “narrative storytelling” startup 1Ric launched Jadu, an app allowing fans the chance to see their favorite performers in holographic form, in March as #stayhome set in. Shooting AR footage of such artists as Vic Mensa, Pussy Riot, and Sir Chloe, Jadu then places the artist in the fan’s own physical environment. Viewed through a smartphone screen, Jadu users can shoot themselves performing alongside the artist. Or, you know, doing something a little less expected…

Porn may not often be considered an art form, but watch any top-flight adult star at their best, and the case becomes clear. With most of the porn world following pandemic procedures and shutting down (or at least minimizing) production, many performers were left wondering how they’d earn a living. Live webcam shows are one thing, but cutting standard porn shoots from their schedule made a huge impact. Like musicians, some turned to VR and AR to keep their fans keen.

Your World is Their Stage

Jadu pushes beyond many existing adult and non-adult AR apps to provide an opportunity for interaction. These interactions shared on Instagram, TikTok, and other social platforms, not only give the artist the chance to reach a wider audience but also to develop a closer relationship with fans.

Adult performers already manage to balance their private and public selves in much the same way pop-stars do. A Jadu-like app providing fans the chance to “perform” alongside world-famous pornstars may result in the expected hardcore acts shot in dimly lit dorm rooms and dens, but it does present new avenues to cross-over success and increased fan-star interaction.

With much of the world still stuck inside and removed from the usual interpersonal interactions, wouldn’t such a collaborative AR porn app be just the ticket to retaining sanity?

Jadu is now available for iOS, free on the App Store.