Qualcomm Bows Snapdragon Reference Design for AR Viewers

Qualcomm introduced an augmented reality reference design based on the Snapdragon XR1 platform for immersive experiences. The design, requiring less power than previous-generation models, is designed for AR viewers that connect to a smartphone, Windows PC or processing puck powered by a Snapdragon platform. Use cases include smartphone applications divisible into multiple virtual displays that can be anchored within the user’s environment as well as the ability to view protected movie and streaming services content. Used with a PC, the smart viewer combines plane detection and the ability to render multiple virtual displays to allow virtual PC windows to be anchored to planes in the real world, Qualcomm said. The design supports an 8 MB RGB camera with image stabilization to deliver a hands-free, “see what I see” experience for remote assistance, and dual monochrome cameras on the viewer enable six-degrees-of-freedom head tracking and hand tracking with gesture recognition, it said. Lenovo plans a smart viewer based on the platform, due midyear, for AR-assisted workflows and immersive training.