Introducing MeshMap

Originally published on 8 November 2024

The world is rapidly moving toward the next computing platform: augmented reality (AR) and spatial computing.

The biggest players in tech (Meta, Apple, Google, Snap) are all releasing their own devices and software in an attempt to dominate this future market.

Recent products, such as the Magic Leap 2 and Snap Spectacles, have finally crossed the threshold of optics that are good enough. Meanwhile, future releases, such as the Meta Orion glasses, tease powerful computing in consumer-friendly form factors.

But there is still a key piece missing: a 3D digital map to place AR content, objects, and experiences in the real world.

MeshMap aims to build the highly accurate, wide coverage, and frequently updated map that will be essential to creating, sharing, and discovering location-based AR apps and experiences.

The Problems

3D mapping for AR is still a nascent industry with large gaps in its data and insufficient methods for filling them.

1. Traditional mapping methods are expensive and lack human-scale data

‍Deploying planes and satellites for aerial imagery or vehicles for road-level imagery is costly and time consuming.

It also misses out on many of the best places for AR: pedestrian-safe areas, dense neighborhoods, passageways, indoors, and up close to the ground and walls (for placement and occlusion).

2. Existing crowdsourcing methods are high friction, low reward, and result in spotty coverage

Google Maps and Niantic Wayfarer lack profitable incentives for volunteers, have unclear rules on how data is used, and require permissions that slow growth.

Where accurate data is available, it often covers only small areas or specific points of interest, sometimes miles apart.

The lack of meaningful rewards leads to slower review times and fewer contributions.

3. Existing data and tools offer limited interoperability across devices and platforms without a clear path to revenue

Meta, Apple, Google, and Snap are all optimizing for their own devices, operating systems, data formats, visual positioning systems (VPS), SDKs, and/or app stores.

And, of course, the cost of these devices and software is not cheap.

This creates a fragmented ecosystem that is confusing and expensive for AR developers to navigate, especially as they try to ship their apps to devices and platforms that still don’t have mass consumer adoption.

Our Approach

MeshMap proposes a new way forward:

• Content creators do their own permission-less mapping and content pinning.

• Participants and supporters share the benefits of the mapping data and AR economies.

• Data and software are designed to be compatible across devices and platforms.

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More details coming soon.

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