Wednesday, April 26th, 2017 by Jayden Langmead
Since the launch of the very first iPhone in 2007, mobile phone technology seems to be making leaps and bounds with each new generation. From the introduction of the gyroscope in the iPhone 4 to the innovation utilising Near Field Communication technology for mobile payments, smartphones are becoming more and more intelligent. With these surges in technology, it didn’t take long for augmented reality to appear – and it appeared in a big, big way with the release of Pokémon Go last year. Almost as soon as it was launched, it seemed everyone with a smartphone was instantly obsessed with catching these virtual creatures, even so far as taking over local sites in the real world.
While the Pokémon Go trend appears to have died down a lot since its initial launch, it was a great proof of concept for the market. Unlike complete virtual reality, which requires headwear and expensive equipment, augmented reality can be used by anyone with a smartphone and consumers are more than keen to get involved. This kind of accessibility and enthusiasm makes augmented reality extremely appealing for investors. Enter Google Tango; the next step in the evolution of augmented reality, or “AR” for short. Developed and authored by Google, the platform allows smart devices to do complex 3D mapping of the surrounding environment without using GPS or other external signals – now that’s pretty cool! If all of that sounds a bit technical, Google gave some excellent real-world applications for the technology at a recent technology conference. These included: Spatial awarenessPointing a Google Tango Device at a table on the stage, the device was able to measure and display the dimensions of the table in real time. In this demonstration, the distance between the floor and the ceiling was also measured in a matter of seconds. The ability for this technology to accurately map and measure 3D space also has some promising applications as an aid for the visually impaired.
|
Posted in Technology by Jayden Langmead
No Comments
No comments yet.