Is Snapchat Developing its Own Augmented Reality (AR) Device?

The rise and fall of social media platforms highly depend on its ability to reinvent the program with new and exciting services that the consumers would love. Another option is to create new platforms and gadgets that will seamlessly interact with the existing app. It looks like Snapchat is engaged with the latter as it appears that the social media platform is creating an augmented reality device.

Snatchat is another social media sharing website that has gained popularity over the last few years next to Facebook and Twitter. With the advancements of technology today, more and more companies are venturing into augmented reality and virtual reality devices that link to various apps and existing programs.

What gave Snapchat away is its recent move to join a Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) signifying that there's a huge possibility that the company may develop an AR device specifically augment reality glasses, according to TechTimes.

Snapchat has always used augmented reality inspired filters, according to Fortune. That is why it is very likely that they might be moving towards fully developing that technology for its app.

Strengthening the rumors is the former move by Snapchat to purchase Vergence Labs in 2014, a smart eyeglass developer. If the trend is correct, Snapchat may release AR/VR glasses that can link to devices using Bluetooth technology.

However, despite having clues that lead to an AR/VR Snapchat device, there is no confirmation yet if the company is indeed developing state-of-the-art equipment.

Many different AR/VR devices have been released in the market recently and it wouldn't be a surprise if Snapchat followed suit. Forecasts from market analysts predict that sales involving AR and VR technology devices may increase to millions in 2020.

"We expect augmented reality technology to evolve quickly and the experience to improve dramatically. It's little surprise that companies such as Microsoft and Google are placing such big bets in this area," Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight, said in a statement. "The added dimension of the Pokemon Go craze has undoubtedly raised awareness of the potential for augmented reality. That can only be positive for the technology," Wood added.