Apple confirms it purchased a company that makes virtual reality and motion capture.software. The acquisition of iKinema could bolster the iPhone maker’s augmented relativity offerings, especially with a set of AR glasses supposedly coming next year.
Apple and iKinema: It’s a done deal
An Apple spokesperson told The Financial Times that his company has purchased iKinema.
This software developer’s website says “iKinema leads in animation software for motion capture, games and virtual reality. We power animation engines for leading companies.” And its Twitter account promises “Professional animation technologies for casual games, serious games, virtual reality, mocap and post-production.”
The company created a Showreel video to demonstrate the technology it offers:
Apple and augmented reality
Software developed by iKinema could be built into Apple’s own augmented reality offering, ARKit. This enables developers to create apps that meld the real world with virtual images.
Currently, it can only be used on iPhones and iPads. But respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts Apple will launch a pair of augmented reality glasses in 2020.
While there have been sketchy reports of problems developing the hardware, Apple CEO Tim Cook is a huge proponent of augmented reality, so the company could well power its way through any challenges.
And iKinema could bring real improvements to the product, and all ARKit apps.
Via VentureBeat
