Niantic’s Alien Canine Peridot, Transforms from Augmented Reality Pet to Chatty Sightseeing Escort
“Niantic’s Peridot, the Augmented Reality Alien Dog, Is Now a Talking Tour Guide”
“Niantic, the maker of Pokémon Go, announced today it acquired augmented reality startup 8th Wall. But the real cherry on top might be the company’s acquisition of the peridot smart glasses project, which had been in the works at Snap Inc. For Niantic — or any company trying to bring AR more into the mainstream — hardware is going to be just as important as software.”
One can’t help but chuckle at the irony. The capture-the-flag saga of Pokémon Go has now bled into reality as Niantic engulfs augmented reality startup 8th Wall. But wait. As if taking a page out of Oliver Twist’s book, Niantic seems to whisper, ‘Please sir, I want some more.’ Because the acquisition of 8th Wall apparently wasn’t quenching enough. The company has now guzzled up the intriguing but tantalizingly elusive peridot smart glasses project from Snap Inc.
It’s almost as if they’re playing a real-life version of Pac-Man, gobbling up technologies to further their AR ambitions. The subtext? A bland reminder that in the quest for mainstream AR, hardware and software are two sides of the same coin. Forget about one, and you might be left hopping in the shadows while your competitors bask in the AR sunshine.
What makes this pill easier to swallow is the ‘X Factor’ that Niantic brings to the table. Think about it. This is a company that effortlessly convinced legions of teenagers (and let’s be honest, probably their parents too) to hunt imaginary creatures in suburban parks with the fervour of seasoned treasure hunters. So then imagine the potential of an AR world, where people are not just hunting Pokémon but interacting with their physical environment in a more immersive and dynamic way.
Given Niantic’s track record, it’s not a leap of faith to decode why Snap gave the green light for the handover of its precious peridot project. It seems everyone is waiting with bated breath to see how Niantic will wave its magic wand to turn what were once geeky AR projects into formidable mainstream realities.
At this stage all we can do is sit back, relax, and wait with bated breath for the unfolding AR drama. It’s like watching episodes of “Game of Thrones.” With each acquisition, the plot thickens but only time will tell who sits on the AR throne. One thing’s certain though, Niantic is clearly soldiering on to be the ‘King of AR.’