Introduction
Google has been in the augmented reality game for a while now, but the company is taking things to the next level with Project Tango. The project was first announced at Google I/O 2014 and has been in development ever since. While you may not have heard of it, you’ve definitely seen examples of AR thanks to its inclusion on some Android devices. But what exactly is Project Tango? And will these new gadgets bring about a true augmented reality future?
Project Tango headset.
- Project Tango is a platform for mobile devices and head-mounted displays (HMDs) that allows smartphones, tablets, and HMDs to see the world the way humans do.
- It uses 3D sensing technology to give mobile devices spatial awareness by tracking their position relative to the world around them. The technology enables applications like indoor mapping and AR gaming–and it’s already available in select Android phones from Lenovo, Asus and Motorola.
- Google has partnered with AMD on an experimental reference design for Project Tango headsets that feature eye tracking technology from SMI (Silicon Microsystems).
Asus Zenfone AR.
The Asus Zenfone AR is a smartphone that offers many of the features found in Project Tango. It has a 6.0″ WQHD Super AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, 23MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. The 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM makes this phone fast enough to handle most tasks with ease.
Lenovo Phab 2 Pro.
The Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is the first phablet with a Tango-enabled camera. It has a 6.4″ screen, so you can see more of your surroundings than with other phones that have smaller screens and cameras. The phone is available for purchase in the US, UK, and Canada.
Acer Predator 8.
The Acer Predator 8 is a standalone AR headset with a 5.5″ display and 2560×1440 resolution. It has 6 axis gyroscope, an accelerometer, 9 axis motion tracking system and weighs just 350 grams (0.77 pounds). The device runs on Android 8.1 Oreo with Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor inside it that allows users to enjoy gaming experience in high quality graphics along with immersive audio experience through DTS Headphone:X technology which provides surround sound effects for your entertainment needs.
These devices can help give you a glimpse into an augmented reality future.
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that can overlay digital information on the real world, a sort of “digital layer” for your environment. It’s different from virtual reality (VR), in which you wear a headset and immerse yourself in an entirely new world–one that doesn’t exist. With AR, you’re still experiencing the same physical environment but with added elements from another source (such as your phone).
Augmented reality has been around for years; for example, many video games have used it as part of their gameplay experience. However, recent advances in hardware mean that this technology is becoming more accessible to consumers than ever before: Google Glass 2.0 is set to launch later this year with improved battery life and better resolution than its predecessor; Microsoft’s HoloLens allows users to interact with holograms; and even Apple has reportedly been working on its own version since 2016!
Conclusion
With these devices, we can see how far mobile technology has come and how close we are to a future where AR glasses are commonplace. They’re not perfect yet–there are still issues with battery life and processing power–but they’re a step in the right direction for consumers who want an immersive experience without having to carry around additional equipment like phones or tablets.
