Niantic is scaling the metaverse into the real world with new WebAR technology – hardware

(extract from press release)

Niantic, the global leader in augmented reality (AR), today launches the Lightship VPS for the web. This is the photo-realistic Niantic jumping into the browser. Niantic has also been making its extensive AR mapping business available in recent years to creative developers around the world.

This move marks a major milestone for the web and augmented reality. A powerful tool for WebAR is now available to a larger community of developers and brands. This tool not only learns where users are at the moment, but also provides relevant information that makes it possible to better integrate virtual and real points of interaction.

How does Lightship VPS for web work?

Lightship VPS for web enables developers to turn everyday places into exciting destinations. VPS (or Visual Positioning System) connects reality to the digital world by installing AR content in places and allowing virtual objects to interact with their surroundings.

Developers can add VPS-enabled sites to Niantic’s AR map or instantly use the 100,000+ available VPS sites at launch to create their own WebAR experiences. VPS-enabled places are not just views of streets or public landmarks, but a collection of publicly accessible places such as parks, trails, local stores, and more. Niantic’s Augmented Reality map has been created as a community by developers, surveyors, and players of titles like Pokémon GO and is based on surveys of real-world locations.

Where can developers get information?

Lightship VPS for web is now available to all 8th Wall developers. Developers can start building a Lightship VPS for the web by logging into their 8th Wall workspace or signing up for a free 14-day trial at www.8thwall.com. Discover some of the first Lightship VPS servers for web experiences built by 8th Wall developers for VPS-enabled locations in Tokyo, Paris, London, Vienna, Sydney, New York, Los Angeles and more at www.8thwall.com/Discover.