Facebook has unveiled its plans for using virtual and augmented reality technologies to grow its platform, including new Snapchat-style camera features.
Speaking at the company's F8 developer conference yesterday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed new technologies designed to take advantage of the boom in AR tech. These are primarily centered around the Facebook Camera, with examples like interactive filters and animated masks.
The company's new Camera Effect Platform includes two products; an online editor for image frames and AR Studio for more in-depth AR creations, which is currently in closed beta. Zuckerberg showed off several examples to demonstrate the technology, including AR games, art and social messages.
"Over time, I do think that this is going to be a really important technology that changes how we use our phones, and eventually all of technology," he said during his keynote. However, he warned the technology would take a while to reach it's full maturity, saying "it'll take a while for this to develop. Experiences are not going to change dramatically overnight".
Augmented reality technology, which overlays digital images onto the real world, has been popularised primarily by Snapchat, which features a variety of animated effects. It's been adopted with particular interest by marketers and advertisers, who are looking to take advantage of its high usage within the coveted 'millennial' demographic.
The company also took the wraps off a new social VR environment, called Facebook Spaces. The shared virtual experience allows you to hang out with digital avatars of your friends, relive memories on Facebook and watch 360-degree videos together. It also supports Facebook Messenger, meaning your friends can get involved even if they don't have VR headsets.
The new products are part of Facebook's effort to further establish social VR and AR as a key part of its platform, which it hopes will prompt new growth and continued engagement within its userbase.
-
Bigger salaries, more burnout: Is the CISO role in crisis?In-depth CISOs are more stressed than ever before – but why is this and what can be done?
-
Cheap cyber crime kits can be bought on the dark web for less than $25News Research from NordVPN shows phishing kits are now widely available on the dark web and via messaging apps like Telegram, and are often selling for less than $25.
-
Meta to pay $725 million in Cambridge Analytica lawsuit settlementNews The settlement closes the long-running lawsuit into how Facebook's owner, Meta, handled the Cambridge Analytica scandal
-
Meta's earnings are 'cause for concern' and 2023 looks even bleakerAnalysis Calls for investor faith in metaverse tech only emphasise the worries that its investment strategy won't pay off
-
Has Lenovo found the ultimate business use case for smart glasses?Opinion Lenovo’s T1 smart glasses offer a virtual desktop that only you can see
-
Microsoft and Meta announce integration deal between Teams and WorkplaceNews Features from both business collaboration platforms will be available to users without having to switch apps
-
Facebook is shutting down its controversial facial recognition systemNews The move will see more than a billion facial templates removed from Facebook's records amid a push for more private applications of the technology
-
'Changing name to Meat': Industry reacts to Facebook's Meta rebrandNews The rebrand attempts to provide a clearer distinction between Facebook and its umbrella company
-
Facebook's Oversight Board demands more transparencyNews Board bashed the social media giant for its preferential treatment of certain high-profile accounts
-
Facebook claims AI managed to reduce hate speech by 50%News The social media platform has hit back at claims the tech it uses to fight hate speech is inadequate
