Apple seems to gear up to introduce Augmented Reality for its upcoming iPhone. The Cupertino-based giant is exploring AR features for the next iPhone, which will allow users to change the depth of photographs taken with the phone camera, according to the latest report by Bloomberg.
According to the report, the company is exploring the ability to change the depth of specific objects in the picture and another useful implementation would let users isolate a specific object, such as a person’s head, and allow it to be tilted 180 degrees. Other than this, users might be able to add virtual effects and objects on a person, similar to what we have seen in Snapchat. The report further highlights that the phone’s camera will rely on a technology known as depth sensing.
For this, the company has secretly set up a team of experts to strengthen its hardware and software for the next step in AR. The team would be run by a former Dolby Laboratories executive, and the group include engineers who have worked on the Oculus and HoloLens virtual reality headsets as well as some digital effects veterans from Hollywood.
Further, the report also claims that Apple is working on digital spectacles, just like Google Glass, that could be connected to an iPhone and beam AR content. The new pair of glasses from the company might help to beam content like movies, maps and more.
This is not the first time Apple is reported to be working on AR features. Earlier, a recent report obtained by Business Insider claimed that this 3D camera will work in two ways – Time of Flight (ToF) and Structured Light.
The Time of Flight (ToF) will emit IR signals to the object in front of it and with the help of the bounce back rate, create a 3D image of the object. So, Apple is highly expected to implement this technology at front. Meanwhile, the Structured Light will essentially create a grid on the object and will then deform into different pieces to make a 3D image. To simplify, the next iPhone might scan your face and put as your favourite gaming character.