Augmented reality is a little hit a miss at the best of times, and its inclusion in the likes of Pokémon GO can sometimes provide varying results depending on the user's device. For some, it can cause their game to crash, and for others, it simply doesn't work at all, but even when running perfectly it can still leave a lot to be desired.
In the first half of this video below, GO developer Niantic has shown a clear example of this. As you can see, the AR Pikachu is (kind of) running around in a real-life space, but every time it runs right through a person you become painfully aware that this is just a quirky piece of software doing its thing. The second half of the video, however, shows off something that Niantic has been working on behind the scenes - and it's definitely a lot better than we've seen previously.
The footage forms a new Niantic tech demo, currently called Codename: Niantic Occlusion. In it, you can clearly see that the Pokémon characters dodge and dash around real-life objects, even as they move. Here's what Niantic has said about this new tech:
"The recently acquired Matrix Mill team at Niantic has spent years building and perfecting deep neural networks that can infer information about the surrounding world from one or more cameras. This technology redefines how machines see and understand the 3D world and more importantly, how digital objects can interact with the real elements of it..."
"In the above AR experience of Codename: Niantic Occlusion, you can see Pikachu and Eevee weaving through and around different objects in the real world, dodging feet and hiding behind planters. This level of integration into the environment around us is a proof-of-concept that excites us about the future of AR."
Whether Niantic actually plans to implement this into Pokémon GO, or maybe even use it for new, different projects, is currently unclear. It certainly seems that way, though, potentially being the start of a much-improved AR experience within the monster-catching mobile phenomenon.
Do you like augmented reality? Would you like to see Pokémon GO's use of the technology be improved? Let us know with a comment below.
[source gameinformer.com]
Comments 14
THE MATRIX IS COMING!
AR is definitely a tech of the future, though it's not just entertainment it could see the most use for. Imagine if you could put AR goggles on your face to get info how to repair your car or get social media notifications in your eye view...
You know, let's keep it to the car. Phone vibrating every minute or so is annoying enough
Surely no one actually still uses the AR in Pokemon GO?
Awesome.This technolgy should be used on a Nintendo console and replace the AR cards used in games such as Kid Icarus Uprising and Hatsune Miku Project Mirai DX.
This will take atleast 4 till 8 years for general consumers to enjoy(and i am trying to be safe).
Would be nice but i dont plan to buy a expensive phone just for better pictures and smartphone games.
Introducing the PokeMask Plus!
Alright. Realtime depth-scanning for AR has been a long time coming, but it seems to be right around the corner now.
A QoL improvement I'd request at the same time would be something like constant color temperature analysis of the filmed environment, so that digital elements may be lit with a suitable hue of light.
Maybe they're already doing SOMETHING along those lines, but if they are, it have be improved.
This is what Pokemon should be.
Oh no, not a new Niantic thing...
With multiplayer AR gaming now a thing on iOS, workplaces starting to integrate it into safety equipment and the gradual shrinking of the technology, AR is going to leave VR in the tech graveyard alongside 3DTV, Betamax and the Virtual Boy.
Pokemon Go has one of the most inclusive, friendly gaming communities around whilst VR remains a solitary experience. And with a gradual backlash against screen time, how many people are going to feel comfortable strapping on an all-enclosing headset?
While this is very impressive, it frightens me a little.
Impressive. I like that.
I'm up for it
@Bunkerneath I was thinking the same thing. Did you notice the team is even called Matrix Mill?! ! Doesn't anyone else find this extremely creepy? Eventually the line between fantasy and reality could become so blurred it would be almost destroyed completely. Is this really the future people want?
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