TeamViewer, a provider of remote connectivity and workplace digitalization solutions, has today introduced a new mobile app – lifeAR – for the consumer market. The company states that the app for iOS and Android smartphones bridges the gap between digital conversations with friends and family, and the physical world, by enabling users to interact with each other through location-aware augmented reality (AR) annotations.
According to TeamViewer, the lifeAR app enables mobile-to-mobile group video calls with up to six participants. Users can attach a range of AR markers, emojis, text and drawings to the real-world surrounding them, which is shared and jointly watched live through each participant’s smartphone. AR annotations are permanently attached to real-life objects, even if the device view is momentarily panned away from those objects. Color-coded annotations allow for easy user differentiation and interaction during the experience. Additionally, the app can also be used to create “how-to” video tutorials for any type of activity. All sessions can be recorded, paused for making screenshots, and instantly shared on social media from within the app.
The new app, which is essentially a consumer AR remote assistance app, builds on TeamViewer’s experience in the field of AR-based remote support. It leverages AR technology such as Apple’s LiDAR scanner and ARKit, as well as Google’s Depth API within ARCore to realize precise annotation placements in 3D environments. TeamViewer noted that the technology is already part of its enterprise AR solutions and is used by numerous companies across all verticals.
TeamViewer CPO, Hendrik Witt, said: “We are excited to introduce lifeAR to all consumers around the globe. Democratizing technology is part of our DNA. This is how TeamViewer started. Over the years, our standard TeamViewer software has been downloaded more than 2.5 bn times and became the embodiment for remote IT support. With lifeAR, we want to go one step further.”
Witt continued: “It was our goal to develop a product enabling people to help each other with everyday challenges, for trouble-shooting, knowledge sharing, decision-making, and AR-based social interaction. With lifeAR, we make industry-proven AR technology accessible – for free and for everyone, in every situation. We look forward to hearing about the endless creative scenarios people will come up with while leveraging the power of lifeAR and we are sure this will also fuel our enterprise AR product roadmap.”
The lifeAR app was showcased for the first time in an online interaction (shown above) between TeamViewer’s CEO Oliver Steil and Toto Wolff, CEO and Team Principal of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. Following TeamViewer’s recent announcement establishing a partnership with Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 racing team, TeamViewer’s official branding on the racing car is revealed within a lifeAR session ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.
lifeAR is available for free on iPhone and Android smartphones as of today. For more information on TeamViewer and its augmented reality solutions for remote connectivity and support, please visit the company’s website.
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Image / video credit: TeamViewer / YouTube
