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| Alexa's okay but Silicon Valley should focus more actually augmented |
As
I said before, augmented reality has the potential to become the next
big thing. Voice-activated systems like Alexa are nice, but they have
their limits. We've seen the RA take off in applications like Snapchat
and Pokemon go, but what happens if a major technology company like
Apple puts its billions behind a robust RA solution?
I
would expect Apple to take a dip in RA with the next-generation iphone,
perhaps a 360º camera function, new types of proximity sensors, the
option to toggle between virtual and real worlds with a touch, or
immersive audio that will make a virtual scene fill with life.
But
Apple also needs a software layer dedicated to the RA that is placed on
top of the iOS to serve as an extended platform specifically linked to
any new hardware-related feature. That would be followed by a special
SDK for developers, who could create new and innovative applications for
RA on a new iphone.
If
Apple adds RA to the iphone, I suspect some favorite developers will
have their hands on the SDK this year in order to create RA
applications. Apple will reveal your iphone in a few months, although
there is no exact date so far. Given Apple's penchant for secrecy, I
doubt we'll hear anything about RA at the Apple World Conference of
Developers (WWDC) next month.
But
the most important thing about this is that Apple could provide a
powerful new RA platform for developers, which will bring technology to
the mainstream. This would be a great challenge for Google, Samsung,
Microsoft and Amazon that would challenge them to create their own RA
platforms.
The
other company that could quickly bring the RA to the masses is
Facebook. At its F8 developer conference last month, Facebook showed new
camera filters, which will allow developers to design frames that can
be added to a user's profile photo or photos and videos taken with the
Facebook camera. A "RA study" will also allow developers to create masks
and scripting effects that react to the live movement.
Although
voice-activated platforms like Alexa will continue to grow and be
important, I feel that the RA is the platform in which we really need to
pay attention.
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