Qualcomm has taken aim at augmented reality with the unveiling of its new Snapdragon XR1 platform.
The chipmaker claims it is the world’s first platform dedicated to “extended reality” (XR) – a term that encompasses AR, VR and their various iterations. It is designed to improve the performance, power consumption, and thermal efficiency of XR services.
Qualcomm revealed a number of OEMs, including device makers Meta, Vuzix, VIVE, and Picoare, are already working on products that incorporate XR1.
The platform is comprised of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a vector processor, and Qualcomm’s AI Engine. Other features include a software layer, machine learning, a software development kit (SDK), and connectivity and security technologies.
It also supports on-device AI processing to improve the efficiency of critical AR functions, such as pose prediction and classifying objects.
When all these features come together, the end result should be XR experiences that are more responsive and immersive than what has gone before, Qualcomm said.
“As technology evolves and consumer demand grows, we envision XR devices playing a wider variety of roles in consumers’ and workers’ daily lives,” said Alex Katouzian, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mobile Business Unit, Qualcomm Technologies. “By integrating powerful visuals, high-fidelity audio, and rich interactive experiences, XR1 will help create a new era of high-quality, mainstream XR devices for consumers.”
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