Qualcomm Introduces Spaces XR Developer Platform to Create AR Apps

Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform, a developer kit that allows developers to create apps for AR glasses. Developers can also use the platform to make existing apps suitable for the AR headsets.

Snapdragon Spaces allows developers to create headworn AR apps that recognize and adapt to their environment. For example, an app with Snapdragon Spaces recognizes a table, so that objects can be placed on a table, for example. The app also has hand tracking; thus users can manipulate virtual objects.

Qualcomm provides several types of apps that can be made with Snapdragon Spaces, such as in the field of gaming. For example, users could show a virtual screen on which they can play games, if it were a physical television. Users could also place a physical rc car on the ground and see a virtual track with AR glasses to drive the car through.

Other possibilities are being able to view objects that someone wants to buy, for example. Then the user can view the object from multiple angles and also see the true size of an object. Developers can also create virtual workplaces with multiple virtual screens with Snapdragon Spaces, Qualcomm thinks.

The developer platform works with game engines such as Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, with other AR platforms such as the Niantics Lightship platform and with AR glasses or smartphones from Lenovo, Motorola, OPPO and Xiaomi, among others. The platform also contains a resource library that includes documentation, sample codes, tutorials and tools. The Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform is now available in early access to select developers; in the coming spring, the developer platform should be deployable by all developers.