Virtual Reality headsets and eyewear are getting more and more accessible, but it seems that the hardware is outpacing the development of apps and content that would actually make these devices more than just heavy accessories. Each device espouses their own (or someone else’s) platform and therein lies part of the problem. Qualcomm, who doesn’t have a VR headset of its own but powers some of these, is trying to create a bridge to all these estranged lands. And that bridge is almost here with the beta release of the Vuforia SDK for Digital Eyewear.
Developing for VR devices and a VR use case is not exactly a walk in the park. For one, there are considerations of the actual form factor of the headset, the way it present information to the user, the proximity of the display to the user’s eyes, etc. And, if you wanted to target multiple devices, you’d have to contend with differences in platforms as well.
Good thing Qualcomm is here to the rescue, with the Vuforia SDK, which now supports creating app for digital eyewear, a.k.a. VR headsets and goggles. This extension to the SDK was first revealed with the announcement of the ODG R-7 smart glasses. Now, in beta form, it is going out to developers to let them take it for a spin. Aside from the ODG R6, the SDK also supports the Epson Moverio BT-200, and, of course, the Samsung Gear VR.
The Vuforia SDK is available for multiple platforms, such as Android, iOS, and Unity 3D, but the devices listed above all run on Android.
