Google I/O 2019
In collaboration with Novel, we at Virtu Labs had the exciting opportunity to partner with Google for IO2019, where we played a key role in showcasing the remarkable capabilities of ARCore's latest developer release.Google's ARCore team was eager to demonstrate the cutting-edge features and advancements they had developed to their vibrant developer community, and our team was tasked with bringing these innovations to life through a series of immersive augmented reality (AR) experiences.
ARGardenCloud Anchors
AR experiences are more fun when they’re shared. ARCore's Cloud Anchors API let's users create collaborative experiences that Android and iOS users can share. To showcase this, we created a digital ecosystem that let participants grow a garden together.
With persistent tracking, the physical world can become a video game by relaying the position of digital objects to every device in real-time. As users moved around the physical table, magical seeds promoted places in the garden users could plant. Each position spawned a new plant species creating a unique garden with each collective session.
Augmented Images
Augmented reality (AR) opens up innovative avenues for brands to communicate their value proposition to customers, and ARCore's Augmented Images API empowers developers to craft spatial experiences anchored to simple images. As part of our showcase at IO2019, we demonstrated a compelling retail use-case by designing an interactive AR walkthrough that offered users a fresh and immersive perspective on a Breville at-home espresso machine.
Through this experience, attendees could explore the features and functionality of the espresso machine in a captivating and interactive manner, exemplifying how AR can elevate product presentations and create memorable customer experiences. This demonstration was one of the five AR experiences we designed for the event, each of which highlighted the diverse and transformative potential of ARCore's latest developer release.
Augmented Faces
ARCore's Augmented Faces API offers developers the ability to generate a high-quality digital face mesh, enabling the creation of dynamic filters and interactive games without the need for a front-facing depth sensor. To showcase the impressive capabilities of this API, we designed two engaging face filters that incorporated mouth triggers and head position tracking, delivering a delightful and entertaining experience for users. These face filters exemplified the creative potential of the Augmented Faces API, allowing developers to explore the possibilities of facial recognition and interaction in AR.
Whether used for playful entertainment or innovative applications, the Augmented Faces API unlocks a new realm of interactivity, and our demonstration at IO2019 served as an exciting example of the technology's potential. This was yet another highlight among the five AR experiences we presented at the event, each designed to illuminate the diverse and transformative capabilities of ARCore's latest developer release.
The successful collaboration with Google and Novel at IO2019 underscored our commitment to pushing the boundaries of AR technology and our ability to create compelling and impactful experiences that resonate with audiences. As pioneers in the AR space, we at Virtu Labs are proud to have contributed to this milestone event and to have played a part in shaping the future of augmented reality.
CREDITS
Client: Google, 2019Partner Agency: Novel
Development: VirtuLabsECD: Jeff LinnellCreative Director: Jeremy StewartDesign Technologist: Brandon KruysmanDesign Technologist: Jonathan ProtoExecutive Producers: Julia Gottlieb, Jeff MackeUnity Artist: Jeffrey Bryant3D Design/Animation: Maciek Janicki3D Design + AD: Peter TarkaTexture Artist: Patrick HillsteadVideo Production: Stebs, Natalie RholdPhotography: Aron PruittFabrication: Dakota Wilder, Andrew Devansky