Augmented reality (AR) is taking charge of revolutionizing the way we interact with the digital world. Without a doubt, Google has provided one of the main platforms that has promoted this technology and this is ARCore. For people new to these topics or who are curious about new technological advances, they may wonder: What is ARCore? How is it used? Is it paid? How to access this platform? That is why some of these will be resolved below.
What is ARCore?
ARCore is an augmented reality platform created by Google with which developers can create immersive experiences on mobile devices, without the need for additional hardware. This platform makes use of sections such as the camera and the sensors that a smartphone has to track the environment and superimpose virtual elements precisely and according to the environment. Thus, ARCore allows users to interact with virtual objects in the real world.
ARCore offers a huge set of tools and functionalities for the various creations of augmented reality experiences and all of them with a high quality. Among some of its most outstanding features are:
Motion Tracking: ARCore uses the camera to track the user’s movement and position in space. This allows virtual objects to be located in precise positions and thus maintain their location even in environments with constant movement.
Surface detection: The platform is capable of recognizing flat surfaces, such as tables or floors, with which virtual objects can be anchored to these surfaces in a realistic way.
Ambient lighting: the platform takes into account the lighting of the environment so that virtual objects integrate more naturally. For this, shadows and reflections are adjusted in real time.
Development API: ARCore offers an API (Application Programming Interface) with which developers can create augmented reality applications for Android devices in an efficient and accessible way.
ARCore to date has a fundamental feature and that is that the augmented reality development platform can be used for free. As it is not necessary to make monthly or license payments to use it in augmented reality projects. The platform is available to developers and can be accessed by downloading ARCore from the Google SDK. It is important to know that some technical knowledge is needed so that the experiences created are optimal, fluid and attractive for users. However, you don’t need to be an experienced developer to test and run augmented reality experiences.
Some applications made with ARCore
The Google platform has been used in a wide range of augmented reality projects in different industries. So it is not difficult to find some examples of what can be done with this technology. Here are some notable examples:
ARCore Measure: It is an application that uses ARCore to measure objects in the real world. The operation is simple since all you have to do is point the phone’s camera towards an object and the application provides the precise measurement in real time.
Figure 1. ARCore Measure.
just a line: Allows users to draw lines in space, that is, in the real environment they are in, using the camera of their mobile device. The feature of Just a Line is that drawn lines remain in their real-world location, so users can walk around them and view (or interact with) them from different angles as if they were physical objects.
Figure 2. Just Line.
Author: Juan David Acosta Neira
Editor: Carlos Ivan Pinzon Romero
Code: UCRV-10
University: Central University.
ARCore Logo. (s.f.). Recuperado de https://i.blogs.es/179c23/arcore-logo/1366_521.jpg Xataka Android. (2023, 23 de mayo). ARCore: qué es, para qué sirve y móviles compatibles. Recuperado de https://www.xatakandroid.com/realidad-aumentada/arcore-que-sirve-moviles-compatibles Applesfera. (2023, 23 de mayo). Just a Line: la aplicación que te permite crear dibujos en realidad aumentada. Recuperado de https://www.applesfera.com/juegos-ios/just-line-aplicacion-que-te-permite-crear-dibujos-realidad-aumentada Ars Technica. (2018, 19 de junio). Google's AR Measure app comes to all ARCore Android phones. Recuperado de https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/06/googles-ar-measure-app-comes-to-all-arcore-android-phones/ Emiliusvgs. (2020, 11 de septiembre). ARCore Elements - Guía para crear experiencias de realidad aumentada (EN Captions) [Archivo de video]. Recuperado de https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zARtdHuOThA
