Introduction to Ad-Blocking Technology
A software engineer has developed a clever recent augmented reality app that uses AI to discover and block advertisements, billboards, and product branding in real life. This innovation has the potential to increase ad blocking beyond personal screens, providing users with more control over the content they see.
How the App Works
The app, created by Stijn Spanhove, is designed to be used with Snap’s AR Spectacles. It utilizes Google’s Gemini AI to discover advertisements and types visible through the smart glasses, blocking them and replacing the ad with a red square and the blocked brand’s name. This technology has been demonstrated in a video posted on social media, showing the glasses in motion as they discover and block ads on posters, pedestrian billboards, and even food packaging.
Experimental Stages and Future Possibilities
The app remains to be in its early and experimental stages, but it surely’s exciting to assume a future where users have control over the physical content they see. As Spanhove notes, "It’s still early and experimental, but it surely’s exciting to assume a future where you control the physical content you see." The project’s potential is vast, and it should be interesting to see the way it develops.
Technical Details and Exclusive Experience
According to Tom’s Hardware, the app is built using libraries and APIs shared by Snap on its GitHub for its Depth Cache development. This makes the app, for now, a Snap Spectacles exclusive experience. The use of Gemini AI and Snap’s technology highlights the modern approach taken by the developer to create this unique application.
Feedback and Suggestions
Commenters on LinkedIn have suggested replacing the red rectangles with more natural visuals, akin to plants or foliage, or perhaps a blur effect, to create a more pleasing viewing experience. This feedback indicates that there’s interest within the app and a desire to see it improved and refined.
Conclusion
The development of an augmented reality app that blocks advertisements in real life is a big step forward in ad-blocking technology. As the project continues to evolve, it should be exciting to see the way it changes the way in which we interact with the environment and the content we’re exposed to. With its potential to supply users with more control over what they see, this app could have a profound impact on our each day lives and the way in which we experience the world around us.
