Google ARCore 1.7 Brings 3D Face Tracking and Animated Objects
Google releases ARCore 1.7 with Augmented Faces, Sceneform animations, and pre-built UI components to help developers build better AR apps for Android.
Google releases ARCore 1.7 with highly visible features that make augmented reality apps livelier and easier to interact with. The update introduces Augmented Faces, which uses front-facing cameras to apply a 468-point 3D mesh to a user's face for mask-like textures and objects.
The new Augmented Faces feature tracks facial movements smoothly to enable Snapchat- and Instagram-style AR effects on Android devices. Additionally, ARCore 1.7 adds support for Sceneform animations so virtual objects can dance, jump, spin, and move around within an AR environment.
Google also introduces ARCore Elements, a collection of pre-built UI components that simplify AR app development. These elements include a Plane Finding surface detector and a multi-axis Object Manipulator, and developers can download a free ARCore Elements app from the Google Play Store for additional samples and guidance. The updated SDKs for Java, C, iOS, Sceneform, and Unity are available now.