Augmented reality (AR) has been steadily gaining attention over the past few years since the release of Pokémon GO in 2016. Since then, both Apple and Google have been developing AR platforms to bring AR to everyday life. Apple released ARKit in 2017, and Google released ARCore in 2018, both aimed at making AR accessible to the mass market. In this article, we will explore the capabilities and potential of Apple’s ARKit and Google’s ARCore.
Apple’s ARKit
ARKit is a suite of tools and APIs designed to facilitate the development of AR experiences on iOS devices. The latest version, ARKit 4, was released in 2020 with new features such as Location Anchors, Face Tracking, and improved Scene Understanding. One of the most notable AR apps made using ARKit is IKEA Place, which allows users to see how IKEA furniture would look in their homes before they make a purchase.
Google’s ARCore
ARCore is Google’s equivalent to Apple’s ARKit, designed for Android devices. ARCore uses a combination of motion tracking, environmental understanding, and light estimation to place and anchor virtual objects in the real world. Some notable apps made using ARCore include Measure, which allows users to measure objects using their phone’s camera, and Just a Line, which allows users to draw in mid-air and create 3D AR drawings.
Applications of AR in Everyday Life
The potential uses for AR in everyday life are vast. From entertainment to education, AR has something to offer everyone. For example, AR could be used in education to create interactive and immersive learning experiences, or in e-commerce to allow customers to see how products would look in their homes before they make a purchase. AR could also be used in healthcare to visualize medical procedures and educate patients about their conditions.
Conclusion
AR has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with the world around us. With Apple’s ARKit and Google’s ARCore, the technology is becoming more accessible and user-friendly for everyday consumers. The possibilities for AR in everyday life are limitless, and we are only just scratching the surface of what is possible.
