Google unveiled its experimental will to integrate Augmented Reality (AR) features into mobile and desktop web using its Chrome browser. This will open up the way for web designers, media organizations and other professionals to create virtual 3D objects.
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AR On Google Chrome
Google blog post revealed the working prototype version of AR on Chrome. Well, let’s break it down – it starts with a product tentatively called Article aka a 3D model viewer for browsers. The Article loaded on a desktop with a 3D model, it displays as a 3D object that can be interacted with, if it is placed in a webpage, it will animate as GIF as a user scrolls (as shown below).
This interactive feature can really be helpful in activities ranging from entertainment to education. Just being able to drop a 3D model of an astronaut in a classroom would be an impressive way to teach students. Do note, on mobile, the AR experience is much more complex thanks to built-in cameras and sensors on modern smartphones.
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Reason Behind The Browser Based AR
Google is currently competing with Apple’s ARKit framework, a toolkit to make AR focused apps and other services. Google, on the other hand, has its own ARCore framework and moreover, Google’s Chrome browser is a popular browser in iOS (an alternative to Apple’s Safari). It is crystal clear that, by making AR work on the mobile browser, Google can taste and have a cross-platform advantage. A pretty smart move by the search giant.
Reza Ali and Josh Carpenter, Google’s Daydream WebXR team, said;
In the next few months, there will be hundreds of millions of Android and iOS devices that are able to provide augmented reality experiences — meaning you’ll be able to look at the world through your phone, and place digital objects wherever you look.
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