Last year, Google announced plans for a standalone Virtual Reality headset and it has finally arrived as the Lenovo Mirage Solo running Daydream. Along with the highly anticipated gadget, the Lenovo Mirage camera was unveiled as the first camera built for VR180. The Mirage Solo puts everything you need for a mobile VR in a single device. It is an independent device which does not require a smartphone, PC or any external sensors to transport you to virtual reality. Just pick it up, put it on, and you’re ready to go!
The headset is equipped with a wide field of view and an advanced display that is optimized for VR. It also showcases a more engaging feature with WorldSense, a powerful new technology which enables highly enhanced positional tracking on a mobile device without additional sensors. With the Mirage Solo, you can duck, dodge and lean, step backward, forward or side-to-side, hence elevating the immersive experience.
Along with the Mirage Solo, Google has collaborated with Lenovo to develop the first VR180 consumer camera, the Lenovo Mirage Camera. With point and shoot simplicity, the VR180 lets us capture immersive VR content. With a staggering 180 degree field view and crisp three dimensional imagery, it projects us into a new and advanced reality. Designed with VR capture and playback in mind, these devices work great separately and together, and both are available for purchase today.
Google Maps and Street view implemented with Augmented Reality also projects futuristic prospects. Basically, you would hold your phone’s camera up to different points on the street, which the software would then recognize. Augmented reality then takes over and displays directions allowing for easy navigation through the streets. Google also demonstrated a little AR fox that can guide one along city streets.
Shared AR experiences: Adding a more social feature to AR, it is expected to introduce a capability called Cloud Anchors that will enable new types of collaborative AR experiences, like redecorating your home, playing games and painting a community mural—all together with your friends and family. This is to be available across Android and iOS.
AR all around you: ARCore now features Vertical Plane Detection which enables you to place AR objects on more surfaces, like textured walls. This opens up new experiences like viewing artwork above your mantlepiece before buying it. With an added capability called Augmented Images, you’ll be able to bring images to life just by pointing your phone at them.
Faster AR development: With Sceneform, Java developers can now build immersive, 3D apps without having to learn complicated APIs like OpenGL. They can use it to build AR apps from scratch as well as add AR features to existing ones.