In the race towards augmented reality, Snapchat has taken a step ahead of its competitors. This Thursday, the Californian company unveiled a pair of connected glasses that allow the addition of colored filters to the real world called “lenses”. The glasses also have two small cameras and four microphones, which makes it possible to record the show and share it on social networks.
Thanks to the tremendous potential of Snapchat’s augmented reality platform, [les lunettes] CEO Evan Spiegel, as quoted by him, said presentations understand what is in your field of vision and suggest filters based on what’s going on around you. Financial times . “You can then take the picture and send it to your Snapchat friends.”
Limited independence
These glasses, which are currently only 30 minutes old, are not yet available for sale. Snapchat has decided to award it to a number of developers specializing in special effects and augmented reality. According to Evan Spiegel, augmented reality technology isn’t really expected to take off for another decade.
Take advantage of the huge potential of @popThe AR platform, the next generation of Spectacles, allows you to overlay lenses directly onto the world in front of you, for an immersive AR experience. #SnapPartnerSummithttps://t.co/r4XnSC886z pic.twitter.com/UTDDoxwBOO
Spectacles May 20, 2021
The social network, which is especially popular among teens and young adults, isn’t the only one working on augmented reality show. Facebook said last fall it would unveil a pair of “smart” glasses this year in partnership with Luxottica. As for Apple, the company is also working on a headset and augmented reality glasses, according to Bloomberg.
500 million monthly users
The social network has managed to grow during the pandemic, especially thanks to the influx of new users in India, as Evan Spiegel indicated, during a virtual conference with investors. Snapchat now attracts 500 million monthly users. In India, the number of people who use the app daily has jumped 100% year-over-year in the past five quarters, after TikTok was banned in the country.
About 40% of Snapchatters are now located outside North America and Europe, but these regions are still crucial for the app. “In the US, France, UK, Australia and the Netherlands, Snapchat has become an indispensable part of people’s lives. Evan Spiegel explained that the app was adopted by 90% of those between the ages of 13 and 24 and 75% of those between the ages of 13 and 34.