Augmented Reality Platform readied for Android phones

Qualcomm Inc. releases its Augmented Reality (AR) Platform for Android smartphones for commercial application following the successful completion of its beta program.

Offered through Qualcomm's online developer network, this 1.0 release now allows developers to build, market and commercially distribute vision-based applications based on the Qualcomm AR platform.

According to Qualcomm, its AR platform will provide consumers with a broad range of experiences that entertain, engage and inform utilising a new form of interactive media and rich feature set which enables developers to build high-performance, interactive 3D experiences on real world images, such as those used in print media (books, magazines, brochures, tickets, signs) and on product packaging.

The platform supports multiple development environments. The Qualcomm AR Android SDK supports native Android development with the Android tool chain, including the Android SDK and NDK. The Qualcomm AR Unity Extension supports rapid development with the Unity 3 game development tool. A web application is also included for creating and managing image resources that can be used with either development environment.

Qualcomm explained that industry-leading performance is achieved through innovations in advanced computer vision algorithms and close integration of hardware and software resulting in higher-fidelity user experience in which graphics content appears more real against the real world background.

While applications built on the platform will run on all Android smartphones using Android 2.1 or greater, optimal performance will be exhibited on phones using Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset.

According to Qualcomm its AR technology is being made widely available to its 6,000 registered developers for commercial use.

Recently, Qualcomm and Big PlayAR collaborated with the Dallas Mavericks to introduce the first commercial application using Qualcomm's platform. "Mavs AR," a game developed by Big PlayAR, has enabled fans attending the Mavericks' playoff games at American Airlines Centre to point their smartphone running the Mavs AR application at their ticket to play a virtual basketball game in the palm of their hands.

"Based on the game's success, we expect to use AR for future fan promotions, and Qualcomm's AR platform has demonstrated itself as a powerful platform for creating these types of 3D experiences," said Mavs owner Mark Cuban.