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Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is the concept of superimposing digital content (such as online information and graphics) on top of a view of the real world as seen through the viewfinder of a camera. Qualcomm’s vision-based AR platform uses complex computer vision algorithms, tightly aligns computer graphics, and includes robust tracking and image detection.

Qualcomm’s global R&D teams are driving the industry’s efforts for next-generation AR. Qualcomm has a dedicated in-house team of AR technologists and visionaries based in San Diego (USA), Seoul (S. Korea), Vienna (Austria) and Cambridge (UK). In addition, Qualcomm is collaborating with leading academic institutions such as Georgia Institute of Technology (USA) and Graz Institute of Technology (Austria).

Qualcomm’s involvement in AR not only includes R&D but also commercialization efforts. Qualcomm's AR SDK, Vuforia, is available for developers on both Android and iOS. Learn more about Vuforia on QDevNet.

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University Relations

Qualcomm Collaborates with Leading Academic Institutions for AR Research

Christian Doppler Lab for Handheld Augmented Reality

As a member of the Christian Doppler Research Association, an Austrian non-profit named after Christian Doppler (Doppler Effect), Qualcomm provides funding to the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Handheld Augmented Reality at Graz University of Technology. Qualcomm’s contributions are matched equally by the Austrian government. As the exclusive industrial sponsor to the CDL, Qualcomm engineers are collaborating with CDL researchers to promote the adoption of vision-based augmented reality technologies. The Christian Doppler Research Association and CDL have talented scientists and researchers collaborating with Qualcomm on strategic augmented reality projects.

Georgia Tech

Collaborating with Dr. Blair MacIntyre from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Qualcomm helped establish the Qualcomm Augmented Reality Game Studio, a research and design center aimed at pioneering new advancements in mobile gaming and interactive media. Georgia Tech is among the world’s leading research institutions for this technology. For more than 12 years, the institute’s Augmented Environments Lab has been researching ways to enhance a user’s senses with interactive media. Dr. MacIntyre, along with collaborators at Tech and the Savannah College of Art and Design – Atlanta, have a track record of creating cutting-edge game experiences for augmented reality. The game studio, located on Georgia Tech’s Atlanta campus, will use Qualcomm’s augmented reality platform to produce concept demos and fully functional game prototypes. The collaboration is expected to produce innovative academic and applied research on augmented reality, while also bringing compelling game ideas and concepts to developers and game designers around the world.