WRLDS, the company that developers smart toys and platforms for connected play has announced the release of a new software development kid (SDK) to give developers a new medium to work with by using augmented reality (AR) and a bluetooth-enabled connected smart ball. The SDK is free to to use and is designed to be easy to use, allowing developers to get set up and ready to build experiences in next to no time.
“People don’t seem to understand that gamers and coders can also be musicians and athletes — the WRLDS platform bridges this space between gaming and real-life passions and interests,” said WRLDS co-founder and CEO Felix von Heland. “We are here for the developers, not the other way around. We want to develop with them, and we want their feedback, ideas and thoughts. Creating one of the first games also means they are very likely to get downloaded by everyone who’s purchased a WRLDS ball, so developers can see their creations out in the world.”
The WRLDS connected smart ball is about the size and weight of a tennis ball and is made out of a durable, lightweight “Moon Foam” that has a bounce return rate of more than 70 percent. This means that not only is the ball one of the smartest but it is also one of the most bounciest balls on the planet. The inside of the ball contains components similar to that of a smartphone: an accelerometer to record movement, impact and g-force; an antenna; a Nordic Semiconductor chip with sensors to communicate with mobile devices using Bluetooth low energy (BLE). All of these measurements are converted into data that is used for in-game events.
This means that developers can leverage the technology within the WRLDS smart ball to create AR experiences that allow for interacting with the real-world and gaming environments simultaneously. They can also create splashes of colour and shapes within AR and even interact with map-based territory experiences as well, or simply have the ball create art or fart noises on impact. The possibilities are limitless.
Those looking to learn more and to access the SDK can do so over on the official WRLDS website with the company highlighting the first 20 gaming experiences made with the SDK on the website “wall of fame”. For more on WRLDS and all things AR in the future, keep reading VRFocus.