Qualcomm Unveils Vuforia SDK For Augmented Reality Development, Next-Gen Glasswear

Nearly a decade ago, it was smartphones. A few years ago, it was tablets. These days, it's all about 3D printing and Augmented Reality, as evidenced by the availability of the former in conventional shops such as Staples, and the multi-billion dollar purchase of Oculus by Facebook in the case of the latter. Qualcomm has toyed around with emerging technologies for quite some time while still pumping out silicon that slips inside of many of the world's mobile devices. While its smartwatch didn't ever reach beyond an experiment, we suspect that Vuforia will be something it presses on for a while.


As AR takes hold and begins to seep into the mainstream, Qualcomm has announced a new SDK for Digital Eyewear. It's described as a "mobile vision platform that will empower developers to build augmented reality (AR) applications for a new generation of digital eyewear." Whereas many AR applications are focused almost entirely on gaming, Vuforia is designed to impact gaming, shopping, education, and even industrial/enterprise uses.

As you'd expect, the new SDK is designed to operate on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors to minimize the motion-to-photon latency. The Vuforia SDK for Digital Eyewear also includes an easy-to-use calibration method that enables Vuforia applications to dynamically adapt to a wearer’s facial geometry, thereby providing an optimal experience.


Already, a pair of devices have launched with support of the new code: the ODG R-7 and the Epson Moverio BT-200. Vuforia is also the first vision platform to enable a new class of hybrid VR/AR experiences on the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition powered by Oculus. With Vuforia SDK for Digital Eyewear, developers will be able to extend the capability of Gear VR further to incorporate AR experiences within VR applications, as well as create immersive AR applications for gaming, education, and shopping.

The Vuforia SDK for Digital Eyewear will be available this Fall as a beta for a select group of developers. To apply for the beta, please visit: https://developer.vuforia.com/support/contact/beta.