Snapchat creates ‘six-foot circle’ filter to help you remember social distancing during coronavirus isolation
SNAPCHAT has created new lenses intended to help users who are social distancing.
The tech giant is said to have worked with the World Health Organization as the world continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
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Experts are recommending people to stay six foot away from others if they have to leave their household.
One of the new filters intends to educate users with WHO-approved tips.
These tips appear over the image that the Snapchat user's camera is displaying.
They include the general advice that you should avoid touching your face, stay at home and cough into the crook of your arm.
Virtual Reality v.s. Augmented Reality – what's the difference?
Here's what you need to know...
- Virtual reality involves using a headset to simulate a virtual world
- In a VR world, everything you see will be computer-generated
- Popular VR headsets include the HTC Vive and Facebook's Oculus Rift
- Augmented reality lets you see the real world, but "augments" (or adds on) computer-generated elements
- This means you'll be able to see computer images overlaid onto your real-world view
- For instance, you could wear glasses that overlay directions onto the road in front of you
- Popular AR headsets include Microsoft's HoloLens and the Google Glass spectacles
Another of the new filters is called "My Social Distance".
It shows an augmented reality representation of how far a user should be from other people around them.
This can be used while people are walking outside.
It will allow you to see if other people are too close to you.
Snap Inc has been active with measures to help its users during the Covid-19 outbreak.
It said on a recent blog post: "We launched creative tools to help Snapchatters share expert-approved best practices with their friends and family members, including a worldwide filter with advice to our community on how to stay safe.
"This information is sourced from the World Health Organization, and links to its website for more info.
"We offer trusted content. Our content platform, Discover, is curated and we work closely with only a select set of partners, including some of the most trusted news organizations around the world."
Snapchat – what is it?
Here's what you need to know...
- Snapchat, or Snap, is a multimedia messaging app available around the world
- It was created by former Standford University students Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy and Reggie Brown
- The first version of Snapchat was released in September 2011
- The main feature of Snapchat is the ability to send self-deleting photos, videos and messages
- These digital missives will wipe themselves from a recipient's phone after a short time
- Snapchat also offers "Stories", which allow users to share content visible to multiple users – but that vanishes after 24 hours
- As of 2019, Snapchat has around 190million daily users
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What's your favourite Snapchat filter? Let us know in the comments...
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