Chrome 67 Beta: Better Support for web AR/ VR

In the forthcoming Chrome 67 version, Google will make full use of sensors in smartphones and bring better immersiveness to mobile devices through the new WebXR framework (which already integrates VR and AR APIs) experience.

The reason why smartphones can play VR/AR devices is that they already have the hardware for display and control experience, covering the screen, camera and most of the sensors. In the latest beta version of Chrome 67, Google introduced the Generic Sensor API.

In this nutshell, developers have access to data in smartphones’ accelerometers, gyroscopes, direction sensors (accelerometers + gyroscopes) and motion sensors (accelerometers + gyroscopes and magnetometers). These APIs can be used to create web games such as desktop mazes or utility tools such as digital compasses.

The WebXR API has not provided a developer preview in the latest Beta. This upcoming standard is based on the existing WebVR standard and adds an AR experience based on this. Although still in its early stages, the WebXR API can be used to create everything from 360-degree video to home shopping, all in a browser.

You can get Chrome 67 beta here.