PTC today announced new features for the Vuforia augmented reality (AR) platform targeted for the enterprise. This includes support for Windows 10 devices and the introduction of the groundbreaking VuMark™ solution for delivering AR experiences to any object.
Recently acquired by PTC, the Vuforia AR platform is supported by a global ecosystem of over 200,000 developers who have built more than 20,000 apps for phones, tablets and a new generation of digital eyewear. Vuforia has been widely used by consumer brands to market and sell their products.
With the enhancements announced today, the Vuforia AR platform will be able to address the broader enterprise market opportunity. Goldman Sachs calls augmented reality a disruptive technology for the enterprise and a report from Juniper Research estimates that the use of AR apps in the enterprise will grow to be a $2.4 billion market in 2019, up from $247 million in 2014.
“PTC believes the technology has arrived to completely transform the way we interact with and experience things, and that technology is augmented reality,” said Jay Wright, Vuforia general manager & senior vice president, PTC. “Our goal with Vuforia is to deliver an augmented reality experience on top of all types of things - and fundamentally change the future of work.”
With support for Windows 10, Vuforia developers will be able to target a new generation of Windows 10 devices, including Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book. Developers can use Unity, the leading tool for interactive 3D app development, to build a single cross-platform application that will run on iOS, Android and now Windows 10 devices. Additionally, developers will be able to use Microsoft Visual Studio to add AR functionality to their Windows 10 applications.
AR applications must deliver unique experiences on a wide range of things, such as machinery and manufactured products. VuMark is a universal solution that can deliver a unique AR experience on any object while allowing the design freedom for a custom look and feel. VuMark also provides a simple method for encoding data such as a URL or a product serial number. It overcomes the limitations of existing bar code solutions that do not support AR experiences and can detract from a product’s appearance.
“Today’s announcement leverages two transformational technology trends, the Internet of Things and Augmented Reality, to deliver a new class of products that will fundamentally change the way people interact with products,” said Vernon Turner, senior vice president and research fellow (IoT), IDC. “The Vuforia augmented reality platform will provide an opportunity for organizations to seamlessly overlay digital data on the physical world. This is a game changer because it offers a richer interface to the person who operates the product, and delivers deeper insight into how to service those products.”
Support for Windows 10 and VuMark will be publicly available to all developers this Spring. It will also be available to selected developers as part of the Vuforia Early Access Program. To apply for this program, or to get more information, please go to developer.vuforia.com.
