Apple at the WWDC 2018 event has announced the ARKit 2 platform which would allow developers to integrate shared experiences, persistent AR experiences, object detection, and image tracking to make AR apps even more dynamic. The company is also introducing a new measure app for iOS which uses AR to measure the size of real-world objects.
With the new persistent AR experiences, users can start an AR puzzle on a table and come back to it later in the same state, or tackle an interior decorating project over multiple days without having to start over. It also brings shared experiences that make things, even more, engaging on iPhone and iPad, allowing multiple users to play a game or collaborate. It allows developers to add a spectator mode which will allow users to view the AR gameplay.
ARKit 2 also extends support for image detection and tracking; this makes it possible to detect 3D objects like toys or sculptures, and adds the ability to apply reflections of the real world onto AR objects automatically. This makes AR experience even more realistic. The company is also introducing a new Measure app in iOS 12, and this uses AR to quickly gauge the size of real-world objects similar to a tape measure.
The new app automatically provides the dimensions of objects like picture frames, posters, and signs, and can also show diagonal measurements, compute area and allow users to take a photo and share it with accurate dimensions right from their iPhone or iPad. Pixar and Apple have partnered to introduce a new USDZ file format that helps 3D creators to create rich content and animations optimized for mobile devices. ARKit 2 is a part of the iOS 12 update which will roll out to eligible devices in September.