Augmented Reality integrates the digital world into reality based on location and objects. Currently, AR with the smartphone is popular: Social apps like Instagram offer thousands of AR filters for faces or the environment, Google navigates through Maps with augmented reality or displays life-size AR animals in Google Search. Apple makes 3D scanning accessible with special lidar technology in the iPhone, giving many people the opportunity to create their own AR content. The AR industry’s big goal is slim AR glasses suitable for everyday use that will eventually replace smartphones: imagine walking through a shopping mall and seeing purchase recommendations right at the front doors of stores through AR glasses. Of course, there are countless other application scenarios. This is still science fiction – but we’ll be the first to tell you whether it comes true.
Alicia Keys is partnering with Snapchat to bring augmented reality to her live concerts. Fans can scan album art to unlock a new AR filter and hidden messages. They can also scan tour artwork at select locations in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York at select times to unlock an Alicia Keys avatar.
To coincide with the premiere of the Barbie movie on July 21, Snapchat and Warner Bros. have launched an augmented reality experience. With an official Barbie AR filter, you can try on different digital outfits and accessories in Barbie or Ken look right on your smartphone. The Barbie AR Lens is part of the Snapchat app for iOS and Android.
Google and Taito have teamed up to release the augmented reality game Space Invaders: World Defense. It allows players to fight virtual aliens in the real world using their smartphones. The app is based on Google's ARCore technology and uses the Geospatial API to integrate the game environment with the real world and architecture. The game is now available for free in the iOS and Android app stores.
Microoled, a manufacturer of ultra-lightweight, low-power OLED microdisplays, has announced a €21 million fundraising round. The round, led by Jolt Capital, will support the expansion of production in France and the next generation of full-color OLED solutions. The small 0.2 to 0.6 inch near-eye displays (NEDs) are well suited for AR headsets due to their high brightness and contrast. One application is B2B data glasses using the Activelook platform.
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