Imagine being able to try out furniture before you buy it.

YOU could spend thousands of dollars on new TVs or you could just download a TV app for just $1.

This is one of Mark Zuckerberg’s goals for Facebook, with the company making a big push into augmented reality.

The technology, which places computer generated graphics over a real-world environment, first became mainstream when Pokemon Go was released on iOS and Android last year.

Using augmented reality (AR), players looked at the world through their phone’s display, which combined the viewfinder feed from their camera and an overlay of 3D graphics of Pokemon.

Seeing the hype the technology created among users, Facebook announced at its annual F8 Developer Conference that it’s working on its own AR platform to allow people to overlay digital images and text onto photos and videos in the social media platform.

“We’re going to make the camera the first mainstream AR platform,” Zuckerberg said at the conference.

While currently only in closed beta and open to developers, Zuckerberg said the technology would eventually become available for free in all of Facebook-owned properties — Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp.

“You’re going to be able to swipe to your camera and swipe through the effects: Face masks, art frames, style transfers,” he said.

“But instead of a few options to choose from, you’ll have thousands to choose from.”

Dubbed the Camera Effects Platform, the technology will use the one of the most advanced object recognition software in the world to help bring objects to life.

Zuckerberg used the Coliseum to further explain the technology, explaining visitors could scan parts of the building to see digital information cards offering more information on the site.

The technology will also allow the ability to add any object into the real-world, so instead of seeing Pikachu, you could test out furniture from stores to see how it would fit in your house — think of an interactive catalogue.

Impressively, Zuckerberg said users will also be able to add a digital sticky note or graffiti to a real world object, only able to be seen when someone scans over it.

While this is impressive, such advanced object recognition software could have a slightly creepy side as it would allow Facebook to gain more insights into your personal life than it already has.

By picking up on objects in your room, Facebook will ultimately collect more data, which will be used for targeted advertising.

Zuckerberg’s long-term dream is to see the smartphone ditched completely, with natural, lightweight glasses or contact lenses custom built to display AR content.

“If you want to play chess, great, here’s a chess board,” he told USA Today, pantomiming a chess board on a coffee table.

“You have your glasses and I have mine. And even though it’s not a real board, we can play and it feels like it’s real.”

The Facebook founder took things one step further, saying the glasses could diminish the need to purchase many household items.

“We don’t need a physical TV. We can buy a $1 app TV and put it on the wall and watch it,” he said.

“It’s actually pretty amazing when you think about how much of the physical stuff we have doesn’t need to be physical. It could just be digital and created by kids all around the world who don’t need access to a factory to build a TV.”

While these are great ideas, Zuckerberg admits people shouldn’t expect them too soon.

“It’s going to take a while to develop. Your experience won’t change dramatically overnight,” he said.

“Over time, I think this is going to be a really important technology that really changes how we use our phones and eventually all technology.”

Would you like to use these features? Continue the conversation in the comments below or with Matthew Dunn on Facebook and Twitter.