Qualcomm, which makes chips for smartphones, has announced the launch of its Augmented Reality platform for Android devices.
Android user can now expect more and better applications that will take their experience to a whole new level. And with several developers now joining hands for the development of applications on Augmented Reality, more useful and innovative apps that present information in a unique way can be expected.
Augmented Reality, in the mobile context, is the superimposition of location based content over live images viewed through mobile cameras. It is yet another technology that was developed for military purposes and is now finding its place in our daily lives.
Qualcomm has made use of the best available technology to make the experience as realistic as real world objects. A close integration between the hardware and the software allows the applications to deliver better and more realistic appeal to the user.
“We continue the tradition by making leading AR technology widely available to developers for commercial use. With more than 6,000 registered developers, we look forward to a new generation of AR applications available in the Android Market and other application stores.” said Jay Wright, senior director of business development, Qualcomm.
Qualcomm and Big PlayAR (an Augmented reality based game developer) recently introduced the first commercial application, the Mavs AR, using Qualcomm’s platform.
Mavs AR creates a virtual basketball court in the palm of your hand. Fans attending the Mavs playoff games at American Airlines Center can point their smartphone running the Mavs AR application at their ticket to play the game.
As of now the platform only supports devices running on Android 2.1 and above having a Qualcomm chip but soon more platforms and devices are expected to be added to the list.