Apple seems to focus on the Augmented Reality with its next generation of the phones. There are rumors of different design and technologies for the next iPhone but no matter what design or technology it uses, some sort of augmented reality is pretty much guaranteed. We have already seen a glimpse of AR at the WWDC 2017. To focus on AR technology, the Apple brought SensoMotoric Instruments, an eye tracking specialized company.
Apple brought SensoMotoric Instruments, an eye tracking specialized company for the development of AR technology.
Apple Inc. is planning to bring something like Google glass, which was way ahead in time then true potential was. And the success of the Snapchat spectacles must have to lure them some kind of glass AR technology. To further strengthen the technology, the company has bought a little company called SensoMotoric Instruments.
SMI is a German provider of dedicated computer vision applications founded in 1991, and largely focused of late on playing a “pioneering role in the development of eye tracking.” Strong evidence points to the OEM and eye tracking solutions supplier for “researchers and professionals” having been recently acquired by Apple to contribute to top secret internal projects.
Existing SMI eye tracking glasses claim to be able to “record a person’s natural gaze behavior in real-time and in real world situations with a sampling rate up to 120 Hz”, while an ETG Virtual Reality Package integrates “gaze vectors in VR cave environments using 3D shutter lenses and the optical head tracking module for SMI Eye Tracking Glasses.”
Apple has not yet publicly discussed what is purpose or plans with the purchase this small company. But the purchase of SIM hints Apple plans to revolutionize the AR-technology in long term.
With this investment, the company seems to plan on improving immersion and reducing motion sickness in future VR and AR headsets.
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