Last Updated on 22/11/2021 by Sanskriti
Facebook unveiled its vision of the metaverse in a series of intriguing announcements at today’s Facebook connect conference. A set of new tools that will allow you to create more linked experiences that allow you to jump between worlds with ease, these all are included in the Presence Platform.
It consists of some tools like Interaction SDK, Insight SDK, and Voice SDK. Developers can overlay virtual items on the Oculus Quest’s passthrough video stream using Insight, which builds on the Pass-through API that was released this summer.
A new feature called Spatial Anchors will also be added by Facebook which will allow developers to “anchor” a virtual item to a specific actual location, ensuring that it maintains its place in the world. Although the Passthrough API was initially only available for the Oculus Quest 2, Facebook has confirmed to The Verge that the new platform would work with both iterations of the Quest headset.
The third component of the Insight SDK is Scene Understanding, which makes it possible for the developers to create virtual reality experiences that are scaled to the size of the player’s room. Facebook added that with an example “you can attach a virtual screen to the user’s wall or have a virtual character navigate on the floor with realistic occlusion.”
The Interaction SDK toolkit, the second set of tools, is created to make it easier for developers to incorporate controller and hand-centric interactions. Developers will be able to include ready-made interactive features such as “grab,” “poke,” “select,” and “target” into Facebook’s Unity toolkit, which will be accessible next year. It provides better hand tracking and allows developers to construct their own motions.
Last but not least, the Voice SDK feature, Facebook’s Wit.ai natural language technology powers the Voice SDK Experimental toolset. Users will be able to have a hands-free virtual experience as a result of this. Developers may use it to construct voice navigation and search functionalities, as well as a Voice FAQ that players can access by asking a question. Voice-Drive Users may be able to use their voice when playing games, such as while conversing with an avatar or casting a speech-activated spell.
The Presence Platform, according to Facebook, “will be key to feeling connected in the metaverse” by allowing developers to merge virtual and real-world information.
