Snap Might Let You Control The AR Experience With Your Mind
Snap, the developer of Snapchat, plans to push augmented reality experiences to the next level with advanced brainwave interface technology. If that sounds futuristic, it could be surprising to learn that practical applications might not be that far away. Controlling AR with the mind could be a key to everyday use, making this an essential step for Snap.
Snap is best known for its wildly popular social media platform, but it's also a leader in AR development. Lenses are an AR feature that identifies the user's face and overlays animations, shading, or otherwise alters their appearance in real-time. Being one of the first to offer this technology to the public, it played a significant role in launching Snapchat to the forefront in the early days of social media. Snapchat has branched out further with environmental and landmark experiences.
Snap announced that it had acquired a company called NextMind that developed a non-invasive brainwave measuring headset. The idea is presumably to allow users of a future version of Snap Spectacles to interact with virtual objects in AR space without needing to wave their hands around, use verbal commands or a controller. NextMind has already demonstrated impressive results with its technology and has been selling developer's kits. Unfortunately, the company will discontinue sales of these kits since this is intended to become part of a future Snap product. Controlling an experience with only the mind could be what is needed to take AR from a gaming and special-purpose use to making it everyday technology, perhaps in a future version of Snap Spectacles. The current developer version of next-gen Spectacles, without a brain interface, can be seen in a YouTube video.
Snap is working on advanced AR glasses. Its next-generation Spectacles provide a small AR overlay within the wearer's view and record video and snap photos. Unfortunately, the next-gen Spectacles are not available to purchase, but it is possible to request a developer or creator version from the company for testing and helping build the ecosystem.
The currently shipping version, Spectacles 3, is somewhat similar to the Facebook and Ray-Ban collaborative effort Stories smart glasses. Both Spectacles 3 and Ray-Ban Stories record video and snap photos but can't display anything on the lenses. At the moment, AR is primarily taking place on a smartphone screen, but several companies are in development on more practical solutions, and Snap is also keeping an eye on the future with a team focused on controlling future Snapchat AR interactions with the mind.
Source: Snap, Snap/YouTube