Apple continues with its (secret) plans to develop cutting-edge technologies that blur the boundaries between outside and inside as much as possible when it comes to navigation.
In addition to his Augmented Reality efforts, with his ARKit, after incorporating a LiDAR scanner into the latest iPad Pro model and having dedicated the last few years to rebuilding the technology behind his Maps application, he now leads the development of Indoor maps. (of buildings, monuments, etc.) so that they can be integrated into your maps.
Andrew Hart, CEO and confused at Dent Reality, spoke to AppleInsider to report how Apple soon noticed what they were working on and introduced them to what is now known as the Indoor Maps Program.
Hart originally developed an open source ARKit project that he posted on GitHub in 2017, which solved the problem of linking augmented reality experiences with real-world locations. From there, Hart founded Dent Reality, a startup operating in the AR industry.
Announcement: We are now official partners of Apple Indoor Maps, to provide indoor AR navigation!
We are currently preparing projects for the end of the year. Get in touch! https://t.co/q0jYaUnJHG pic.twitter.com/aBrmvAEhLX
– Dent Reality (@DentReality) March 31, 2020
Apple, for its part, offers the Indoor Mapping Data Format (IMDF), a new file format for interior maps, as well as technology for positioning the interior via Wi-Fi.
Dent Reality has developed its own AR navigation technology which it offers as a white label or as a native software development kit (SDK) through the Indoor Maps program.
Hart told AppleInsider that the program's overall goal "to enable (AR maps) elsewhere, as individual apps that may be more specialized, and on the web."
Although Apple Maps supports a certain level of indoor seasickness, Dent Reality is creating development tools for third parties to incorporate their own indoor navigation using augmented reality.
