Adding virtual objects to the real world seems fun and that’s why Augmented Reality is popular nowadays. These images and objects are called augmented objects, or AR objects.
To make these AR objects work, you need an underlying platform that can track motion, recognize faces and surfaces, handle lighting conditions, and more. It’s easy to get started with this technology, but there are many different tools that you’ll need to make your application as successful as possible.
It is also possible that you might not be familiar with every aspect of app development ranging from ideation and designing to testing and deployment. If that’s the case then it is highly recommended that you collaborate with a dedicated developer for your project.
Today, we are going to discuss the top five AR platforms available in the market. These tools will help you create an AR environment that is both compelling and functional, allowing users to interact with your product in new ways.
Top five tools for AR development
Vuforia
Vuforia is an augmented reality (AR) platform that works with iOS, Android, and web-based applications. And developers use it to create AR applications for android and iOS tablets and phones.
Vuforia is a powerful toolkit that allows you to create interactive experiences for mobile devices like iPhone and Android phones. The platform supports a wide range of AR technologies including:
- Depth Cameras
- Light Field Cameras
- Image Tracking
- Visual Inertial Odometry (VIO)
- Head Tracking
Wikitude
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Wikitude is a mobile AR app that enables you to create your AR content and share it with friends. It also provides a large library of templates. You can run Wikitude on any platform like Windows, Android, or iOS.
You can also use Wikitude to find local businesses, restaurants, and other useful information. The app provides an interactive map of your area so you can see where the nearest stores are located.
If you want to build custom AR apps according to your business requirements then you can use some custom templates available on the platform. And you know what the best thing is? The platform is free to use. You don’t have to pay any kind of subscription fees or payments to access any features.
ARKit
Developed by Apple, ARKit is the framework used to build augmented reality apps for iOS devices. It’s the result of an acquisition by Apple, and it’s available to developers as part of Xcode 10 or through the ARKit Development Center.
ARKit isn’t just a framework for building AR apps; it’s also a platform that makes the process of creating AR experiences easier than ever before. With ARKit, you can use the same tools and principles that have made iOS successful for mobile development but apply them to building real-world applications.
ARKit is built on top of Core ML (a machine learning library) and SceneKit (a 3D modeling toolkit), so you can use all your existing knowledge to create apps that work with ARKit.
ARCore
Google’s solution to create AR apps is named ARCore. It’s available on Android devices running Android Nougat and above, and also supports ARCore-compatible iOS devices running iOS 10 and above.
ARCore aims to provide a unified SDK for everything from video games to educational tools. The platform includes basic functions like object recognition, tracking, and position tracking, but it also offers more advanced features like facial mapping and gesture recognition.
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It will pique your interest to know that ARCore can be easily integrated with third-party tools like Unreal Engine 4 or Unity. This allows developers to easily integrate their existing games with AR functionality without having to learn a new programming language or rewrite any existing code.
Unity
Unity is the world’s most popular game engine for creating 2D and 3D video games, interactive experiences, and simulations.
Unity has been around for years, but it’s only recently that it’s become an important platform for augmented reality development. Unity was one of the first platforms to support ARCore on Android devices in March 2018.
Unity supports all major platforms: Android phones and tablets, iOS devices, and Windows PCs. It also offers cross-platform integration with other platforms like Xbox One and Nintendo Switch to create mobile games that can be played on these platforms as well.
Unity is free to download and use on Mac or PC systems, so there’s no cost involved with learning how to use it as an AR developer toolset.
Conclusion
There is no need to mention that AR technology is booming as a new technology trend. All the tech-savvy developers are now trying to build and launch their augmented reality applications. And the excitement is only going to increase with every new AR app launch.
But to create such applications, you must decide what type of AR app they are going to need. Will it be location-based or market-based? You should also choose what kind of SDK will be more suitable to fulfill your business requirements. And to make that informed decision, you must have basic knowledge about the AR tools available in the market.
In this article, we surfed through some best AR app development tools and got a gist of what they can do. I hope you have got what you have been looking for.