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TechCrunch noted that Qualcomm had recently released their Augmented Reality SDK for iOS. The SDK had originally been available for Android but Qualcomm had promised its release in July for iOS. The SDK should make it easier for developers to integrate virtual content with real content such as images captured by cameras found on many portable devices.

Augmented reality applications are nothing new for iOS, with Apple having introduced support for the technology in iPhone OS 3.1 nearly two years ago and a number of applications such as Layar Reality Browser and Word Lens having embraced it, but Qualcomm's tools will make for easier cross-platform adoption that could increase developer interest.

Qualcomm had held an Augmented Reality Application Developer Challenge last year to promote the use of their SDK. The video above shows the winners from that contest. The first version of the iOS SDK is said to support iPhone 4, iPad 2, and 4th Generation iPod Touch.

Article Link: Qualcomm Releases Augmented Reality SDK for iOS
 

Andeavor

macrumors 6502
Aug 19, 2010
297
1
It's pretty clear that augmented reality is the future of advertising and interactive games and puzzles on the go. I can't wait to point my phone at a picture or a scenery and have it come to life. :)
 

MetalMoon

macrumors member
Dec 11, 2010
46
0
San Jose
Cool idea

Thats some pretty awesome technology, however I can't see people carrying those mats around (if those are needed to play the game) and doing this in the car or a movie theater waiting for the movie to start. However, this does have potential
 

miamialley

macrumors 68040
Jul 28, 2008
3,563
1,044
California, USA
It's cool, but why do we need the mat? I mean, couldn't these apps conceivably be done only using the SDK now provided, using only the phone as hardware? What does the map provide to the game that can't be done without it?
 

nostresshere

macrumors 68030
Dec 30, 2010
2,724
314
It looks cool.

But the video is so artsy, I really can not figure out what the hell is going on.
 

GSPice

macrumors 68000
Nov 24, 2008
1,632
89
It's cool, but why do we need the mat? I mean, couldn't these apps conceivably be done only using the SDK now provided, using only the phone as hardware? What does the map provide to the game that can't be done without it?

Point of reference.
 

Piggie

macrumors G3
Feb 23, 2010
9,177
4,108
Really looking forward to seeing this running in the near future on an ipad3 when hopefully apple will have upgraded The rotten 1mp camera on the back they are currently using.

Looks great.
 

coder12

macrumors 6502a
Jun 28, 2010
513
4
And in 30 years, I'll be able to wear my augmented glasses, look at a person, and get all of their information. It's begun people, it's begun!!
 

bretm

macrumors 68000
Apr 12, 2002
1,951
27
I kind of understand what you're saying. I kind of don't. Could someone please explain this?

The matt provides an image to track that the app has exact knowledge of. A surface Of a particular size and shape it can map the game to. That's the augmented part. Without the matt, what would it lock onto to put the image? Your desk? Perhaps, but it wouldn't know what is desk, what is paper, and what is a book. Yes, it could just use the gyro and accelerometer and map it to thin air, but the objects would just be floating there, a set distance away.
 

michaelz

macrumors 6502
Apr 12, 2010
258
19
LA
The matt provides an image to track that the app has exact knowledge of. A surface Of a particular size and shape it can map the game to. That's the augmented part. Without the matt, what would it lock onto to put the image? Your desk? Perhaps, but it wouldn't know what is desk, what is paper, and what is a book. Yes, it could just use the gyro and accelerometer and map it to thin air, but the objects would just be floating there, a set distance away.

One day it will know.
 

akdj

macrumors 65816
Mar 10, 2008
1,190
89
62.88°N/-151.28°W
I hate to say it, but there could be a huge market in porn using this technology...

Not sure if you know JUST how right you are:). This used in that industry....HUGE.

I've always thought about the next true revolution of TV...mounted on our ceilings...ala front projector, yet a 360 degree view...they've figured out how to steer sound...,3D, although slow to adopt now...these kinds of games around the corner, truly takes us from the two dimensional gaming world (no matter how incredible the graphics) we know now to a whole new level...and when the porn industry grabs on to a technology, it seems to flourish...not that this SDK has a competitor...but they chose VHS over Beta...and look what won....not necessarily the better format...as well, porn was a HUGE boon to the adoption of DVD. ..and how quickly it established itself as thee format to own. If they adopt some sort of augmented reality in that industry...just MHO, but that fella...or lady will join the ranks of the wealthiest folks on earth...overnight!

J
 

KamuiVII

macrumors member
Jun 6, 2011
41
0
this isn't anything new.... Nintendo 3DS does this with those card games...

To reply to these negative thumbs... the 3DS, if you have one or have seen those stupid card games, it looks very similar. The 3DS came with some crappy Bow and Arrow game where you could move around if your 3DS was pointed at this stupid card and within like 2 feet of that card. You can interact with whats been made available from the cards data and do basically what that game said you could do. And what you saw was a 3D environment that catered to that programming.

Now, take the iPhone/iPod/iPad2 camera and this special app and you get the same thing. You need the card to play and that particular app to play it. Its the same as the 3DS and was debuted back in like early 2010? These developers just happen to code a few simple games using iOS using the same tech and its the greatest thing ??
 

HowieR32

macrumors member
Jan 27, 2010
64
0
Not sure if you know JUST how right you are:). This used in that industry....HUGE.

I've always thought about the next true revolution of TV...mounted on our ceilings...ala front projector, yet a 360 degree view...they've figured out how to steer sound...,3D, although slow to adopt now...these kinds of games around the corner, truly takes us from the two dimensional gaming world (no matter how incredible the graphics) we know now to a whole new level...and when the porn industry grabs on to a technology, it seems to flourish...not that this SDK has a competitor...but they chose VHS over Beta...and look what won....not necessarily the better format...as well, porn was a HUGE boon to the adoption of DVD. ..and how quickly it established itself as thee format to own. If they adopt some sort of augmented reality in that industry...just MHO, but that fella...or lady will join the ranks of the wealthiest folks on earth...overnight!

J

Yup, I can envisage the first app.... aim at your old-fella and augmented reality will make it look huge. har har. Okay.. that was a bit in bad taste...:p
 
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