Working with the Augmented Reality SDK from Wikitude
Whether you are publishing to Wikitude or using our Augmented Reality SDK – Wikitude takes out the complexity of working with AR and lets you focus on your content.
Cross-Platform
Code once, run everywhere – Augmented Reality content created with the Wikitude SDK run on iOS, Android and BlackBerry 10.
All-in-one
With the Wikitude SDK you have one library in your hands, which unifies all Augmented Reality technologies.
Lightweight
The SDK is kept as lean and lightweight to fit nicely in your app. Technology requirements may vary from application to application, but we aim to consume as little space within your code as possible.
HTML5 and JavaScript
Creating Augmented Reality content hasn’t been simpler – base your creations on well known web standards and get out most of HTML(5), JavaScript and CSS.
Tutorials and Documentation
Feeling a bit overwhelmed or lost? The Wikitude SDK is fully documented, including a number of tutorials and sample projects that can get you up and running in no time!
Fully Customizable
Quickly and easily add a fully customized Augmented Reality view to your existing app. With no restrictions placed upon how you use Wikitude’s technology, the sky’s the limit.
Richard Caelius
General Manager Europe Xomo Digital Inc.
Location-based services with geo data
var poiHTMLdrawable = new AR.HtmlDrawable(
{uri:"hotel.html"},
4,
{scale:1, updateRate:AR.HtmlDrawable.UPDATE_RATE.STATIC}
);
The Wikitude SDK comes with many convenience features to make working with geo-referenced data easy. Design and layout of your points of interest are fully customizable to your meet your needs.
Image recognition and tracking
var logoTracker = new AR.Tracker("WikitudeLogo.zip");
var image = new AR.ImageResource("overlay.png");
var overlay = new AR.ImageDrawable(image, 1.0);
var trackable2DObject = new AR.Trackable2DObject(logoTracker, "WikitudeLogo",{ drawables: { cam: overlay }});
Embedding image recognition and tracking technology hasn’t been simpler. Developers can switch seamless between augmenting recognized images or geo-located points of interest within the live camera image.
3D Models and Rendering
var model = new AR.Model("3dmodel.wt3");
model.scale = {
x : 2,
y : 2,
z : 2 }
The Wikitude SDK can load and render 3D models in the augmented reality scene. Import your 3D model from your favorite tool like Autodesk® Maya® 3D or Blender. Every 3D model can be used in combination with image recognition targets or with geolocations.
See all Features
General
Full support of HTML, JavaScript and CSS
ARchitect supports the full range of capabilities a mobile web browser provides. The full suite of HTML, CSS and the power of JavaScript open endless possibilities for designing your Augmented Reality application. Based on these key elements, developers may also include any number of additional JavaScript libraries such as Google Analytics, jQuery mobile or any other mobile optimized libraries.
Geo-Objects and Geo Location
With ARchitect you can define Geo-Objects that will instantly be displayed at the defined geographic location in an augmented reality view. However this is not tied to a static visual representation like a bubble, but rather, any drawables you wish to display and control. Geo-Objects can be manipulated and edited using JavaScript, and may be used to trigger any number of events, an extremely useful feature for location based services.
Relative Location
The ARchitect engine can not only work with absolute geo locations but also with relative locations. This convenience feature helps you define use-cases like placing objects 300 meters west of the current position of the user. Or position a second geo-object 50 meters north of another geo-object, without the hassle of working with absolute positions.
Image Recognition and Tracking
The ARchitect engine now provides support for recognizing and tracking markers as well as arbitrary natural images in real time. You can attach any Drawable object to a user definable reference image or GeoObject and it will instantly appear at the specified location in the camera view.
This way it’s very easy to combine geo based and vision based algorithms and content to create one immersive AR experience.
The Wikitude SDK includes an extension to use the image recognition capabilities of the Vuforia (TM) SDK by Qualcomm – in order to take advantage of this you need to register as a Qualcomm developer and download the Vuforia SDK separately (detailed instructions are included with the ARchitect SDK documentation).
Support for Multimedia formats
An Augmented Reality World built on ARchitect also benefits from the wide support of multimedia formats. Images of any format and size as well as text labels can be loaded via Drawables. Audio files can be played back in the background whereas video files will play in the native player of the smartphone.
- Images and text labels (see Drawables)
- Audio
- Video
Visualization
Text and images
Each object in ARchitect engine can be visualized according to your needs using so-called “drawables”. ARchitect currently knows four different types of drawables, which are described in more detail below:
Texts and labels
Labels are the most basic drawable an object can take and will display a line of text together with the object.
Images
The ARchitect engine naturally can work with any sort of images, which can be associated with an object.
The final visualization can be any combination of labels and images. z-index and offsets let you control the order of and arrangement of each component.
Animated Image
ARchitect engine 1.1 introduces a new drawable called Animated Image. Using this control it is easy to create basic animation scenes. This drawable works with sprites to optimize performance and flexibility.
HTML Drawables
Complex visualizations of an object usually consist of background images, several labels and other supporting images. Arranging them can sometimes be tedious. ARchitect engine uses HTML drawables as a single visual representation of an object. The HTML Drawable can take arbitrary HTML code and render this as the visualization of your object.
3D Models
3D Models
Beside basic text and images ARchitect Engine displays 3D models in the augmented reality scene. 3D models are treated as another regular drawable with all the functionality available in ARchitect Engine (e.g. rotate, scale). Your models can be used to augment any image recognition target or used in combination with geolocations.
Advanced Visualization
Customizable Radar
A radar element is a great way to help users detect your content around them. It gives them the perfect overview of what is happening around them.
Every AR project based on ARchitect engine 1.1 can benefit from a pre-packaged AR radar element. The design of the radar is fully up to you. Selected elements in the main view light up in the radar element as well.
Direction Indicator
The direction indicator feature will create a customizable direction indicator element, which will show you the closest way to a selected object.
Interaction
Field of Vision trigger
The Field of Vision (FOV) trigger allows you react if a GeoObject is entering or leaving the field of vision of the user. This is a feature unique to Wikitude, and you won’t find this capability in other comparable solutions. This function allows developers to know when the Geo-Object is actually in-sight.
Click trigger
Besides very simple HTML links (<a> tag), ARchitect allows you to attach a click trigger to each GeoObject. The click trigger allows for sophisticated reactions when a user is clicking your object. A prime example of using click triggers would be starting an animation or audio file when clicking on your object.
Geo trigger (Geofence)
Want to be able to react when a user is approaching a certain action area? No problem! ARchitect comes pre-equipped with a geo trigger that allows for precisely this action. The definition of the geo trigger is totally up to you (i.e. You could define an action range of 500 meters around a specific location).
Animation
Property Animations
Property animations allow you to animate your content. Most of the properties you can modify are attached to a Drawable. ARchitect allows you to animate properties such as: offset, anchor point, opacity or scaling of a Drawable as well as longitude, latitude or altitude of a GeoLocation.
3D Transformations
Drawables now can also now be animated using 3D transformations. Currently supported are the following transformations:
- heading: rotation around the y-axis
- roll: rotation around the z-axis
- tilt: rotation around the x-axis
Animated Image
ARchitect engine 1.1 introduces a new drawable called Animated Image. Using this control it is easy to create basic animation scenes. This drawable works with sprites to optimize performance and flexibility.
Animation Groups
Controlling more than one animation in an Augmented Reality scene can be a difficult task. ARchitect engine helps you with animation groups and animation sequences. Parallel animation groups allow you to control animations at the very same time (e.g. start two animations with one click). Sequential animations let you create a sequence of several animations.
Licence and Pricing
Free Trial
Full feature set
The full feature set at your fingertips to test the Wikitude SDK for free – includes a watermark in the augmented reality view.
SDK FLEX
Basic Feature Set
Distribution up to 200 Active Users, which can be upgraded as the app grows. Perfectly fits for small-sized app projects.
SDK LITE
Basic Feature Set
Unlimited distribution for your app with the basic features included. Perfectly fits for medium-sized app projects.
SDK PRO
Professional feature set
Unlimited distribution for your app with pro features (like 3D models). Recommended for agencies and professional projects.
