The latest Wikitude AR platform release includes updated support for Epson Moverio smart glasses, new Flutter sample app, and stability improvements
The Wikitude AR platform goes through regular quality assurance tests, and maintenance and development processes to ensure you have access to the level of quality you need to create high-performing augmented reality experiences.
SDK 8.10 contains all the latest platform maintenance and stability improvements; brings our optimized Epson Moverio AR SDK up to date; and includes the new, highly requested, Flutter sample app.
Epson Moverio
SDK 8.10 support for BT-300 and BT-350 Epson Moverio smart glasses
Starting off with the development that many of you have been waiting for: updated Epson Moverio Wikitude AR SDK.
The Epson Moverio devices are used by enterprises and consumers worldwide to deliver hands-free augmented reality experiences. Wikitude SDK 8.10 offers a fully optimized AR SDK for Moverio BT-300 and BT-350 smart glasses.
The Wikitude AR platform is adapted to make the best out of the unique features of both devices, ensuring optimal performance in a variety of environments and use cases. Among these customizations are:
Intel SSE optimization: providing best processing power and performance for both devices;
Optimization for stereoscopic view: enabling full 3D see-through (side-by-side view) support of Moverio smart glasses;
Personal calibration: enabling perfect alignment between the real world and AR content.
Access the link below to give the Epson Moverio AR SDK a try (download redirects to the signup page for a free trial). Subscription license users are entitled to this free update.
Sample app for Flutter. Another request from our awesome AR community
Wikitude was the very first AR platform to offer official support for Flutter. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Flutter is an open-source mobile application UI development framework toolkit created by Google. It is used to develop natively-compiled applications for iOS and Android from a single codebase.
The Wikitude documentation, with SDK 8.10, introduces a new Flutter sample app to help you add augmented reality technology to your projects.
The Flutter Plugin is based on our JavaScript API and includes the Wikitude AR library/framework, sample app, and documentation.
The Wikitude SDK is regularly inspected by our quality assurance team and optimized by our technical team so you can have access to high-performing tools that are always up to date.
As updates are frequent – and ideal for app maintenance and device compatibility reasons, we recommend choosing our subscription license, which includes one year of SDK update releases.
Download Wikitude SDK 8.10
Active Wikitude SDK subscribers are entitled to all SDK version updates released throughout their term. Follow the links below to update your SDK:
Interested in creating an AR project of your own? Access our store to choose your package or contact our team to discuss your specific AR requirements in detail.
Halloween, nowadays, is most commonly associated with spooky costumes, trick-or-treating, haunted houses, horror movies, excessive amounts of candy, and scary pranks.
But, what originated this tradition?
With a little help from Wikipedia, one soon learns that the word Halloween is actually a contraction of All Hallows’ Evening – the night that precedes the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day, followed by All Souls’ Day, a time dedicated to remembering the dead.
Back in the mid 700’s, it was believed that the link between the afterlife and the physical world was thinned on All Hallows’ Eve. For that reason, people would disguise their identities with costumes or masks in order to prevent being recognized by vengeful souls. That explains a lot.
Thinning the link between reality and fiction
Modern tech In a modern technological association, some believe that augmented reality is thinning the link between the physical world and the digital world. If that is true, will there be a time in which we will have trouble distinguishing what is real and what is not? Some futuristic fictional storytellers seem to believe that is the not-so-distant case.
Despite the glaring benefits that augmented reality is bringing to various segments across the board, imaginative minds, as with all else, attempt to predict the outcome of a possible dark side of AR. In other words, how a benevolent technology could take, accidentally or not, a rather sinister path.
Unsettling AR films to watch this Halloween
If you are a tech and/or horror genre fan, be inspired by the spookiest season of the year, gather your favorite peeps, plenty of popcorn, and schedule a Halloween AR Movie Marathon. Below you will find a few movie recommendations – read till the end to find out how you can prank your gang with a good AR scare.
Strange Beasts
This short film revolves around an AR game called Strange Beasts that allows players to create and interact with their own virtual pets. The digital animations are perceived directly in the user’s field of view with the aid of special contact lenses. The short film has an unexpected twist that shows how physical isolation could play a great role in futuristic settings.
Black Mirror: Play test episode
The Play test episode of Black Mirror, the acclaimed science fiction anthology series from Netflix, perfectly illustrates the thinning link between the real world and the digital world. It tells the story of a man who signs up to test an innovative inner-fear-provoking AR gaming system. The game is so advanced that the test subject starts having trouble knowing where the game ends and reality begins. No spoilers!
Black Mirror: Men against fire episode
Soldiers of the future use complex technologies and augmented reality to improve their overall combating skills and effectiveness. On a specific mission, set to protect villagers from invaders, one of the soldiers will have a full-scale experience.
Credits: Black Mirror
Let’s Be Evil
A group of gifted children, kept in a maximum-security underground facility, rely on Augmented Reality to boost their advanced learning program. However, the newly hired student chaperones soon learn, the hard way, that something is terrifyingly wrong about the situation.
Source: Let’s be Evil
No Halloween get-together is complete without a decent prank. So after watching the above-mentioned films with your friends, be prepared to give them an AR experience they won’t forget anytime soon.
Halloween is creeping up! With social distancing in mind, trick-or-tricking might not sound like a good idea this time around. Why not seize the occasion to improve your developing skills.
To encourage all fellow developers to embrace the Halloween spirit to further exercise their craft, we are sharing a cool Halloween AR Game Tutorial in Unity created by Professor Dr. Penny de Byl. After all, practice makes perfect and our tutorials are here to prove it!
In this Halloween tutorial, Dr. Penny uses the Wikitude SDK in Unity and guides you step by step to set up an AR zombie pumpkin shooter game using the Object recognition and Extended Object Tracking features.
Watch the full spooky extended object tracking tutorial in Unity and get started with your very own Halloween AR game creation!
Did you enjoy the tutorial? Share your results with us by tagging @wikitude in Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
Wikitude Premium Partner, Wezit Transmedia Solutions, has been creating innovative digital experiences for the cultural, retail, and communications sectors since 2011. This article focuses on three successful AR apps the agency has created for French museums and cultural institutions.
Continue reading to learn more about how augmented reality is playing a role in the museum user experience:
Living museum: botanical garden featuring augmented wildlife
AR technology is attracting new generations by bringing a touch of playfulness and innovation in the garden’s tour, consolidating brand awareness and appreciation.
The Jean-Marie Pelt Botanical Garden is one of the largest of its kind in France. The institution cultivates 12 000 plant species across 35 hectares of land and 2 500 m² of tropical greenhouses. Visitors come from all over the world to admire rare and endangered flora and extraordinary and unusual plants.
This living botanical museum, however, has a few new digital residents which are revealed during an innovative augmented reality tour.
The augmented reality tours occur in the tropical greenhouses and include 20 interactive and educational games for kids and visitors of all ages. During the AR tour, digitally augmented animals seamlessly appear blending in with the garden premises, as seen below:
Each 3D animation is accompanied by a story and a purpose that complements the message that the botanical garden touring specialists want to tell. To enjoy the AR tours, visitors can either download the Jardin Botanique Grand Nancy app on their own devices (Android / iOS) or rent a tablet at the reception.
Digitalized Gauguin art with a detailed 360-degree view
A comprehensive art-exposition app includes augmented reality technology to integrate detailed 3D models, allowing users to observe art pieces up close as if they were in their hands.
The collaboration between Wikitude and Wezit started with the launch of an application for the RMN in Paris in 2016, entitled “Gauguin L’alchimiste”. The exhibition, held from October 2017 to January 2018, examined the remarkable complementarity of Gauguin’s creations in the field of painting, sculpture, graphic and decorative arts. It emphasized the modernity of the artist’s creative process and his ability to continually push the limits of each medium.
This exhibit combined a vast number of artworks, exposing Gauguin’s creations in different media, paintings, sculptures, graphics, as well as decorative arts.
To gain a better understanding of Gauguin’s artistic approach, the Museum wanted to offer multiple digital tools for mediation, publishing, and communication, based in particular on a major 3D capture and modeling campaign.
A total of thirty works of art were digitized with very high precision. For this task, the RMN referred to its own photography agency using an exact 3D scanning technique, allowing visitors to explore and appreciate Gauguin’s work from a different point of view, revealing many details of:
21 Ceramics and carved wood elements
11 Paintings
The exhibition ended with an evocation of Gauguin’s hut – called Maison du Jouir. One hundred years ago, on May 8, 1903, Paul Gauguin died, isolated from the world in Atuona, in the Marquesas Islands. At the exhibition, visitors could see a hologram of the hut and his art pieces, as seen below:
Wezit Technical Director, François Roirand, says AR has the potential to create impactful experiences that remain in the memory of museum visitors, and he believes that “a combination of the right code and the right data, painting, ceramics and other elements of the exhibit are easily identified, creating a user experience wow factor at their fingertips… This solution can be easily added creating a lasting memory in the visitor’s experience, these little “magical” things last in their minds, an app beyond the tangible…”
Augmented content attached to modern robot-assisted art
Temporary art exhibition becomes timeless, allowing users to visit and revisit their artworks with the help of augmented reality technology.
An exhibit called ‘Artists and Robots’ held at the Paris Grand Palais in 2018 allowed visitors to experiment with the works created by artists with the help of robots. Augmented reality features were added to the visitor guide app to provide relevant content in an immersive, compelling, and innovative way.
By scanning an art installation, or the exhibition catalog, users get access to detailed information about the artists, their works, the exhibition, and more.
With the intention of helping visitors before, during, and even after the exhibition exploration, the AR guide app allows users to obtain information instantly.
Apart from the free AR content and the possibility to learn more about the artists, artworks, and the entire exhibition itself, voyaging room by room, the visitor guide application also offers in-app-purchase options of audio-guided courses in French, English, or for children.
The museum AR experiences detailed above are powered with Wikitude AR technology. Wezit Technical Director says that “there are many other AR options out in the market, but Wikitude is a trustworthy and reliable brand. Their AR platform implementation is easy to use and efficient. We can count on Wikitude not only technology-wise, but they also provide exceptional customer support.”
The first part of Wikitude’s Augmented Reality 101 series tackled the basics. After explaining what AR is and going through the most common types of AR technologies, we will now explore how augmented reality is being used in our world TODAY.
Before we proceed, let’s make one thing clear: AR is not just about dog face filters and Pokémon GO. We kid you not. People are using this technology to bring ease to their lives and many forward-thinking companies are working with augmented reality to improve their workflow and businesses. Let’s see how.
Augmented reality use cases
We created an extensive list of selected AR use cases. Navigate through the topics below to learn more about current AR applications.
Static mediums are being innovated and brought to life through AR: enhanced catalogs, flyers, brochures, billboards, posters, packaging, t-shirts, print-ads, bus shelters, and storefronts. It’s easy to create targeted experiences and user engagement by including videos, 3D animations, extra info, links to website or social media, and much more.
Medical
Medical students are using anatomically correct AR 3D models for study purposes and AR simulations to train for surgical procedures. Real surgeries, on the other hand, are using remote physicians to give guidance and share expertise that is shown on display in real-time to the performing surgeon.
Handheld scanners are being used to project the estimated position of veins in patients’ bodies for increased accuracy when drawing blood. Doctors are providing better explanations about diagnosis and treatments through enriched AR content and Pharma companies are providing drug info in a 3D AR setting for a better understanding of medicament working mechanisms and dosage instructions.
EDUCATION
Use of interactive AR books that include animated 3D models, sound, and engaging actions. Customizable printable AR worksheets, linked to the content of a specific lesson, for in-class usage, homework, and study purposes. Enhancing field trip experiences with more information and interaction by visiting locations that have incorporated AR features.
Here and in the video below you can find out more about how you can take education to the next level with augmented reality:
Journalism and mass communication
Renowned newspapers around the globe are using AR to enhance reporting and storytelling. Printed issues are being enriched with exclusive content and app AR experiences are bringing more sensory detail to readers. This AR series from The Washington Post is probably the most known example of how AR is changing storytelling.
Decor
Users may visualize and modify the size, color, and placement of a piece of furniture in their environment before buying the product. Roomle’s AR space planner is a great example for home planning and decor with Augmented reality:
Shopping
Shoppers can use AR product placement to see how the object will look like it is in their environment, being able to change color and style, before the purchase. Through AR animations, shoppers can also better understand how a product works and functions. Check how Manor created a digital catalog for E-commerce.
Fashion
Different types of AR dressing rooms are being created to allow consumers to experiment with product placement by digitally trying on clothes, changing their color, sampling different shoes, eyewear, accessories, makeup, and more.
Design and modeling
As an alternative to pricey prototypes, designers are utilizing AR to create 3D models that can be viewed in the real world to better understand, modify, develop and present their projects.
Sport events
Big sport-related events such as the Olympics, UEFA, Wimbledon, and others are relying on AR to innovatively bring exclusive content, event info, and fun engagement to their spectators.
Manufacturing
Static PDF work instructions are being replaced with real-time, rich interactive AR content to assist employees during production on complex assembly lines.
Logistics
Warehouse employees are scanning their orders to be guided by AR prompts that offer the best route to move faster and more efficiently, indicating the precise storage location.
ViewAR is a great example of AR applied in logistics for process optimization.
Maintenace and repair
Technicians can scan machines to check for faulty settings and when corrective measures need to be taken, 3D AR graphics are projected on the exact location where the task needs to be performed along with useful information and other procedures. AR-enhanced content is also being used as an alternative to traditional owner’s manuals and setup guides.
Remote assistance
Remote experts can connect with on-site technicians who receive real-time audio, messaging as well as AR instructions. Users can place annotations and 3D models through shared one-way videos which stay locked onto the real world, giving rich context and eliminating confusion.
Navigation
Traditional GPS directions are not only being layered in the user’s line of sight to better avoid accidents caused by distractions but are also being enhanced to show real-time hazards, traffic, and even public in-building navigation.
Tourism and travel
Travel guides and maps, both printed and digital, are being enhanced with augmented reality content to provide extra information for tourism. With AR, tourists can easily find valuable information by scanning their surroundings to get pinpoint props of free Wi-Fi, restaurant and accommodation tips, customer reviews, directions, transportation options, historical facts, interactive maps, customizable itineraries, and more.
Art
Artists are creating digital art pieces layered over public places that are unveiled through AR. People can leave notes and doodles in public places that are also revealed through AR. Museums have been enhanced with AR guided tours that provide extra content about exposed items. Don’t miss the CoCA Pop-Up (AR)t Book and Direct2Artist showcases powered by Wikitude.
Gaming
The most notorious AR game to date is Pokémon GO. When the game went viral people went to the streets to capture Pokémons digitally layered in the real world. But the possibilities are many and expanding constantly. The spectrum goes from tactical space shooting quests to traditional board games enhanced or totally created with AR. In case you missed it, check out the world’s first augmented reality card game powered by Wikitude.
Military
Instead of using expensive equipment like, single-use targets, bombs, ammunition, aircraft, and others, AR technology is being used to substitute these components during military training. AR is also utilized to enhance the vision and navigation of pilots and soldiers by providing target identification, obstacle avoidance, terrain information, more precision in aiming, and even ally and enemy location.
Construction
AR is being used to project subsurface utilities, like underground pipelines, to avoid during excavations. Constructors are also measuring the length and distance between objects using the tracking capabilities of augmented reality. With the help of AR, engineers can also view their finished project on-site before the actual building process begins.
Retail
Augmented reality features are being used in retail for interactive advertising, product visualization, showroom enhancement (product exploration, special feature revelation), indoor store navigation (product finder, customer loyalty incentive, discounts), shopping assistance (product details and comparison, personalized suggestions), sampling campaigns and more.
PeekPerks, the retail engagement app:
Retailers are also exploring creative and useful ways to use AR to improve internal business processes for logistics, design (shelf optimization, product, and label placement), employee management (in-company training, access to information), employee assistance (modular set-up, restocking support), quality control (audit simulations), personalization and security (facial recognition technology to track customers in-store) and even to create bold new disruptive business models (virtual stores in parking lots, parks and in front of famous landmarks).
Industry
Industries are using AR to optimize their business in design, production, distribution, maintenance, and remote assistance, as discussed in the correspondent topics listed herein.
As seen above, the use cases are many, and it excites us to imagine what the future of AR has in store.
For a deeper technical insight, read about the different technological features that Wikitude’s cross-platform SDK provides to make existing and future AR experiences possible.
Wikitude SDK 8.7 is out! This update adds some pretty impressive performance enhancements and a few new features you can’t miss
Every 6 weeks Wikitude runs an effective AR SDK maintenance and quality assurance program to ensure our developers always have access to a high-performing AR platform. Here’s what’s new for our latest:
Increased Image Tracking detection range (+50%)
Faster camera frame processing and stability enhancements
Preparation to support Apple’s iOS 13
External camera support for Windows in Unity Editor
Faster camera frame processing and increased image tracking detection range (+50%)
The Wikitude AR technology development teams work closely together with our quality assurance unit to programmatically test, tweak, and optimize our AR platform. With every update, our customers can expect high performance and general enhancements.
SDK 8.7 improves the detection range of image targets across devices by 50%. A4-sized image targets can reach impressive recognition distances in the area of 4.7 meters (15.42 feet).
Additionally, internal changes in the processing pipeline of Wikitude SDK 8.7 resulted in faster camera frame access for all related components and includes a series of additional fixes and stability improvements. Please review the release notes for your platform for an in-depth report.
iOS 13 Preparations
At the Worldwide Developers Conference held in June, Apple announced its new iOS 13 mobile operating system. Even though iOS 13 is scheduled to be officially released in the fall of 2019, Wikitude has already started optimizing its AR SDK.
People occlusion, motion capture, and collaborative sessions are some of the much-awaited ARKit 3 features which you will be able to enjoy. Stay tuned to future Wikitude updates to get the latest and greatest AR for Apple’s iOS 13!
External camera support for Windows in Unity Editor
Designed to facilitate UWP app development in Unity, this new feature allows developers to plug-in an external web camera into any UWP-based tablet and use its camera stream in the Wikitude SDK.
The additional camera view helps developers to have a realistic idea of how the AR project is progressing from another perspective in Unity, hassle-free.
Get started with SDK 8.7 for your preferred development platform:
Interested in creating an AR project of your own? Access our store to choose your package or contact our team to discuss your specific AR requirements in detail.
After another productive product improvement cycle, the Wikitude team is excited to present SDK version 8.6. The update includes our powerful – now product ready – HoloLens AR package, introduces support for Flutter, adds Geo-AR for Unity users, and offers further performance enhancements.
Wikitude SDK 8.6 at a glance:
Wikitude SDK for Hololens – production version
Flutter Plugin – release candidate
Geo AR for Unity Plugin (by PendAR)
Performance and stability enhancements
Wikitude SDK for HoloLens – Production Version
The Wikitude augmented reality SDK for Microsoft HoloLens 1 is Unity based, comes with a Holographic UI sample app, and is now available in production version.
The response has been very positive. And we have also received valuable feedback which enabled us to improve the platform even further, resulting in a powerful production-ready HoloLens AR SDK.
With Wikitude SDK 8.6, companies can now purchase and download our augmented reality package for Microsoft HoloLens 1 to create high-performing AR solutions.
New Image Recognition samples for Wikitude AR SDK for HoloLens
Make sure to check out the new Image Target samples to review the performance of the Wikitude SDK for HoloLens.
Additionally, you may access our Wikitude HoloLens Documentation section for further details, instructions, and information.
Augmented Reality for Flutter – Release Candidate Plugin
Wikitude SDK 8.6 is the first AR platform to provide official support for Flutter.
Flutter is an open-source mobile application UI development framework toolkit created by Google. It is used to develop natively-compiled applications for iOS and Android from a single codebase.
Wikitude developers can now work with Wikitude SDK 8.6 to add augmented reality technology to their projects created in Flutter. The Flutter Plugin is based on JavaScript API and comes with the full package: Wikitude AR library/framework, sample apps, and documentation.
Flutter AR Plugin: Feedback Welcomed
As this is a release candidate, we are eager to receive as much developer feedback as possible. When trying the flutter AR plugin, feel free to send us an email (info@wikitude.com) to share what you liked about the development experience and, most importantly, what you think could be improved. Every email received will be highly appreciated and taken into consideration in the improvement process.
Location-based augmented reality is a big hit among the augmented reality community. Starting with Wikitude SDK 8.6, and thanks to PendAR – augmented reality partner of Wikitude, developers can now use LBAR to create Geo-AR experiences in no time in Unity3D.
LBAR offers a very simple workflow for location-based applications. It can be integrated with other apps in Unity3D, and there will be no need to put effort into geo calculations. LBAR also offers a simple and easy-to-use radar so users can have a better understanding of their surroundings.
With every new Wikitude SDK release, our quality assurance team takes the opportunity to review and optimize the platform to ensure all AR features, classic and new, are performing as they should be, enhancing stability whenever possible.
Wikitude SDK 8.6 includes a series of fixes and stability improvements. Please review the release notes for your platform for an in-depth report.
Interested in creating an AR project of your own? Access our store to choose your package or contact our team to discuss your specific AR requirements in detail.
Expand the capability of HoloLens with the Wikitude AR SDK: attach digital AR content to images, objects, barcodes, QR codes, and personalized targets with fast, scalable and reliable AR recognition solutions.
More and more industries are investing in mixed reality headset devices to optimize their operational efficiency.
With this in mind, Wikitude has optimized its augmented reality SDK to support and complement one of the leading mixed reality headset devices on the market: Microsoft HoloLens 1.
Microsoft HoloLens
Microsoft HoloLens is an immersive, ergonomic, instinctual, and untethered mixed reality headset device that enables valuable hands-free industry-leading solutions.
An essential part of what makes said solutions efficient, flexible and personalizable is augmented reality technology.
That is why the Microsoft HoloLens 1 mixed reality device offers out-of-the-box augmented reality functionality:
Native AR Functionality in Microsoft HoloLens 1
Positional Tracking/Instant Tracking
Scene Reconstruction/Plane Detection
Cloud/Persistent Anchors
Stereoscopic Rendering
Calibration
As valuable as these out-of-the-box HoloLens AR functions are, they do not cover a broad spectrum of augmented reality solutions and do not enable image or object recognition and tracking. That is where the Wikitude SDK steps in.
The Wikitude AR SDK has been optimized to support and complement HoloLens 1 by enabling developers to implement additional augmented reality features into their projects.
Wikitude Augmented Reality Functionality on Hololens 1
Image/Multiple Image Recognition Attach digital content to images and any trackable 2D surface
Object Recognition Attach digital content to physical Objects
Cloud Recognition Fast, scalable and reliable online recognition solution for big projects
Plugins API (Barcode and QR code samples) Attach digital content to basically anything with personalized targets
This means, when working with the Wikitude AR SDK for HoloLens, industries can go beyond and attach digital AR content to images, objects, barcodes, QR codes, and personalized targets.
Wikitude AR + HoloLens = Personalized Workforce Solutions
Incorporate Wikitude AR technology in HoloLens to optimize: training, quality management, communication, assembly, maintenance, repair, safety, inspections, communication, product identification, and more.
With applications ranging from digitally augmented step-by-step instruction guides to compliance checklists, to product identification, to instant collaboration, many are the proven benefits of hands-free AR:
Reduce: human errors, execution time, breakdowns, downtime, cost
When implementing and investing in projects of this nature, it is essential to choose and work with partners you can trust. Wikitude has not only been developing and providing augmented reality technology since 2008 but has proudly become the world’s leading independent AR platform provider along the way.
Download Wikitude SDK for HoloLens 1: Release Candidate
Sample Application – Wikitude SDK for HoloLens 1
The Wikitude augmented reality software development kit for Microsoft HoloLens 1 is Unity based, comes with a Holographic UI sample app, and is now available!
Access our HoloLens documentation section to start your first steps with the Wikitude SDK all the way through to advanced concepts and examples for developing your augmented reality project.
Put your HoloLens 1 project into action with the Wikitude AR SDK and work with the reliable augmented reality technology you need to create hands-free AR solutions tailored to your business objectives.
Image Recognition just got better! Wikitude developers are now able to recognize even more types of targets and can enjoy new SDK features and performance updates.
As a result of our latest product improvement cycle, we are proud to present Wikitude SDK 8.5. The update offers even more stability to the platform and introduces two brand new Image Recognition features:
Transparent Areas in Image Targets
Image Targets at Runtime
New Image Recognition Features and Improvements
Wikitude Image Recognition is one of the best performing AR technologies on the market. But don’t take our word for it – we confidently invite any interested party to download a free trial and let the product speak for itself.
And, even though Wikitude has been offering Image Recognition since 2012, we are still eagerly committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with this AR technology. Today we are excited to introduce two new Image Recognition features.
Transparent Areas in Image Targets
The new Transparent Area feature has been included to support those special types of image targets that do not fit the typical rectilinear image shape.
Examples of such images containing transparent areas beyond the main outlines include tattoos, stickers, logos, images with cutouts and basically any image file containing parts with alpha channel transparency.
Details at a glance:
Images with transparent areas can now be used as Target Images
Transparent areas will be ignored during the recognition and tracking process
Works with Image Targets at Runtime, not with WTC files
SDK 8.4 (without transparency support – WTC) X SDK 8.5 (with transparency support)
Image Targets at Runtime
Traditionally, Image Recognition requires developers to create an Image Target collection (WTC file), previous to the AR experience, to be used to detect and track images. As efficient and well-performing as this process may be – and it will continue existing as is, developers now have an additional option to create Image Targets.
With the new Image Targets at Runtime functionality, developers can create Image Targets on the fly, no need for preprocessing.
Details at a glance:
Use regular images (png, jpg,…) directly with SDK as target images
Multiple images can be bundled into a zip file
No need for WTC file creation
Working with WTC files remains as is
Being able to define Image Targets at runtime means users have the ability to easily create AR experiences on the spot. Ideal for quick and convenient testing during the development phase.
Also practical for spontaneous use cases on the go: demos during networking, dynamic art projects, in a classroom environment, adding AR to game cards, and more.
As mentioned above, Runtime Targets give Wikitude developers yet another target creation option. However, the traditional WTC file target collection methods continue to offer advanced functionalities, such as target image performance ratings and manual height value input fields. Ideal for AR experiences that require fine tuning and precise input for even more accurate distance to target calculation and proper wearable device calibration.
Image Recognition Performance Improvements
SDK 8.5 is a big release for Image Recognition AR technology. Alongside the new features presented above, the update is bringing significant performance advancements. Not only are image targets being recognized faster, but they are also being recognized from even further away. Check the details below:
Recognition distance
Image Targets can now be recognized from more than three meters away. To be more precise, we tested an A4 / US-letter sized image target and SDK 8.5 was able to recognize it from 312cm away. That is a whopping +40% increase in distance from previous SDK versions.
Regardless of the target size, our performance tests show that, with SDK 8.5, image targets can be recognized even when they occupy a mere 1% of the device screen area. In other words, this update is ideal for use cases in which users do not have the target image within hands reach.
Duplicate Targets
With a growing demand for multiple and duplicate target Image Recognition, on this release, our team focused on improving duplicate target handling. Wikitude developers will notice faster recognition when it comes to duplicate targets.
Recognition Speed and Tracking Stability
As AR technology provider pioneers, Wikitude takes pride in the quality and performance of its Image Recognition technology. And thanks to the natural advancements in processing capacity of devices, camera optics and related technology in general, we are able to expand the performance and capability of our own AR technology along the way. With this 8.5 release, expect substantial improvements in image recognition speed and tracking stability.
Update to the iOS sample project – now based on Swift 4.2
Apple has been progressing the Swift programming language quite fast since its inception in 2014. Nearly every year a new major version was released by Apple. As part of the Wikitude SDK, we are shipping sample applications, that show the integration of the Wikitude SDK and how to use the APIs to create AR experiences. The Swift-based sample project was already a little bit rusty and still based on Swift 3 – in SDK 8.5 the project is now based on Swift 4.2 and is compatible with the latest Xcode version.
AR SDK enhancements, fixes, and stability improvements
In parallel to the new components and innovative solutions that are frequently being added to the Wikitude AR feature set, our augmented reality SDK is also constantly being submitted to rigorous quality tests to ensure that Wikitude developers have access to the finest and most comprehensive AR tools on the market.
Wikitude SDK 8.5 includes a series of fixes and stability improvements. Please review the release notes for your platform for an in-depth report.
Active Wikitude SDK subscribers are entitled to any and all SDK version updates that are released throughout their term. All other parties are invited, however, to download a free Wikitude SDK 8.5 trial version for testing purposes.
Access our download page to explore all options or click on the direct links below to begin downloading now. Once the download is complete you will be automatically redirected to the signup/login page.
Interested in keeping your app running smoothly and always compatible with operating system device updates. Send us an email to learn how you can get 1+ year of SDK upgrades through our increasingly popular subscription program.
New to Wikitude? Access our store to choose your package or contact our team to discuss your specific AR requirements in detail.
Attending AWE USA 2019 in Santa Clara, CA? Make sure to visit Booth 419 to check cool SDK 8.5 demos and meet the Wikitude team. CTO Phil Nagele will also be talking about scanning and using 3D objects in AR experiences on mobile and smart glasses at the developer track on May 30. More details and Promo Discount code here. Don’t miss out!
Time flies by when you’re creating the future! 🚀10 years ago Wikitude joined the very first Augmented World Expo event in California.
Now it’s time to celebrate AWE‘s 10th anniversary.
Augmented World Expo – AWE USA 2019
The USA 2019 event promises to be the biggest and most experiential augmented reality and virtual reality conference and expo yet. The AR / VR Conference, which will be held in Santa Clara, California on May 29-31 – is expected to have:
7,000+ attendees
250+ exhibitors
300+ speakers
100,000+ sqft. expo
Visit Wikitude at BOOTH 419
For those attending AWE USA 2019, make sure to drop by Booth 419.
Wikitude will be demonstrating exciting new technology features and augmented reality solutions. Visit us for a chat, try out our brand new AR demos and be quick – new giveaways will be handed out until supplies last!
Wikitude CTO, Philipp Nagele, is participating as a speaker and will talk about scanning and using 3D objects in AR experiences on mobile and smartglasses. Don’t miss it!
Description Whether small toys or large building facades, object recognition and tracking allow developers to interact with real-world elements by layering AR content through a mobile device or smart glasses. In this session, Wikitude CTO Philipp Nagele will explore:
– how AR experiences can benefit from working with recognizable objects
– what steps are required to integrate your 3D objects into an AR experience
– technical challenges to solve for a stable working object tracking in real-time
– the differences between smartphone-based AR and smart glasses AR.
Wikitude Partner Talk at AWE
Wikitude partner, HitPoint, shares how they connect AR with TV on the Ellen Degeneres “Game of Games” app. Details below.
Description Ellen DeGeneres, America’s most loved comedian and popular TV host, entered the augmented reality era with the “Game of Games” show. Over 900,000 app users get to tune in and play along with Ellen with AR by unlocking prizes that jump from the TV screen into viewers’ phones. The app has hit 741,614 AR gift box markers scanned from NBC broadcasts of Game of Games, during the weekly Play Along Live game. At AWE, HitPoint Studios gives an insight into the creative and technical process of building the “Game of Games” Game app and how to connect traditional TV shows with AR technology.
Speakers Daniel Leary – Digital Co-Executive Producer, The Ellen DeGeneres Show Paul Hake – CEO, HitPoint Inc.
Auggie Awards 2019
Thank you to everyone who voted for Wikitude! Thanks to you, we are once again nominated as a ‘Best Developer Tool’ finalists and eager to bring another Auggie Award back to Austria! The final decision will be announced during the Auggie Awards Ceremony on May 30, 2019 – 7:00-8:00 pm PST.
Remember to follow Wikitude on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for live expo updates. And if you’ve also been at AWE since the beginning like us, share your old pictures and tag us on social media using #wikitude.
Download
Documentation
Support
FAQ
Blog
Sample app for Flutter. Another request from our awesome AR community
