Since it was constitute in 2011 , Snapchat has used press clipping - sharpness technology to successfully set itself apart from other photograph - share-out services . The app ’s late feature , Snapchat World Lenses , integrates colorful , 3D object into real - world scenes captured on your smartphone .

AsThe Vergereports , Snapchat World Lenses were preface on Monday , April 18 . This is the latest experimentation with augmented reality we ’ve seen from the mobile app . AsSnapchat says in a assertion :

Unlike most of the app ’s high-pitched - technical school filter , Snapchat World Lenses are n’t designed for faces . They ’re meant to be plopped down anywhere in the space being recorded on your phone ’s rear - look camera . That ’s where the augmented world element comes in : The three-D objective carry as if they ’re physically in front of you . Move your camera closer and the animation originate bigger ; pull it away and the objects shrivel , look more distant .

Snapchat

The introductory vivification , which can be accessed through Snapchat ’s lenses deck , admit a cartoon rainbow , a shout out swarm , sprouting flowers , and a coloured “ OMG ” write in house of cards letter . The feature film will be update with novel lenses on a day-to-day groundwork . you could watch a monstrance of Snapchat World Lenses in the video recording below .

While the technology may face futuristic , it ’s not on the nose newfangled . In 2015 , Microsoft introduced the HoloLens , an augment reality visor that allows wearer to consider 3D adaptation of their preferent apps and secret plan ( likeMinecraft ) as part of the physical outer space around them . But with a$3000 price tag , the headset was n’t the idealistic fomite for delivering augment reality to the masses .

That differentiation go toPokemon Go . Last summer , the mobile secret plan work 3D characters into the real world by way of smartphone camera . Since the domain reachedpeakPokemon Gomaniashortly after its debut , no other 3D augmented realness app has descend tight to matching its popularity .

Now that Snapchat is sweep up similar technology , users should n’t be surprised to see other social media sites launch their own versions of the 3D lenses . Facebook has been known to take lineal divine guidance from feature that originated with Snapchat ( likefilters and stories ) , and we already know that Facebook has experimented withvirtual realityin the yesteryear . Download or update Snapchat today to label the potential impact of World Lenses for yourself .

[ h / tThe Verge ]