It’s only been around six months since Snap released the fifth generation of Spectacles, its AR glasses for developers, and the company is already enhancing its latest pair with new Lenses and platform features.
Snap announced on Monday that it’s launching the ability to create Spectacles-focused Lenses that tap GPS, new hand-tracking capabilities, and more. Now, developers can build Lenses using GPS, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), compass heading, and custom locations, allowing them to access geo-location data and create things like AR walking courses.
The update is primarily aimed at improving location-based experiences on Spectacles.
Snap showcased a few examples that utilize the new capabilities, such as NavigatAR from Utopia Labs, which directs users with Snap Map Tiles by displaying glowing arrows to assist wearers in reaching their destinations.
Other new platform features for Spectacles include the aforementioned hand-tracking capabilities, which detect grab gestures and when a user has a phone in their hands. Snap also now lets developers easily add a leaderboard to their Lenses for competition-focused experiences.
Additionally, there’s a new AR keyboard.
Spectacles are currently accessible only through Snap’s developer program, which costs $99 per month.
However, Snap recently introduced a 50% discount for educators and students, indicating that its long-term goal is to bring AR experiences to the masses while also helping it compete with tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta.
Alongside today’s announcement, Snap unveiled a series of challenges that will award $20,000 to Spectacles-owning developers who create the top 10 best Lenses each month. Called the “Spectacles Community Challenges,” the series begins April 1.
