AR apps are popular among developers because they allow them to add a layer of digital information on top of the real world as seen through a cell phone camera. Different AR apps include video games triggered by printed QR codes, in-stadium/sporting event guides, and local directory and product information (point your cell phone camera at a building and see what’s inside). But many of these are still gimmicky. We are still waiting for a killer AR app to emerge.
Qualcomm’s new SDK may or may not help to produce one, but Qualcomm wants to encourage AR apps because they take advantage of the visual and graphics capabilities of its chips. If AR apps become a must-have for smartphone users, Qualcomm can sell more chips.
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Authors: Erick Schonfeld