Snapchat introduces Scan feature on homescreen to improve AR experiences

By Shilpa Annie Joseph, Official Reporter
  • Follow author on
Snapchat
Representational Image

US-based popular social media platform Snapchat has introduced its next-generation Scan to the homescreen in order to allow people to easily access augmented reality (AR) based utility to identify dogs, food, plants and so on.

According to the reports, the users can use their camera to solve math equations using this AR feature. The Scan feature was updated in 2019 to allow customers to experience the latest AR advancements. Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, has collaborated with Shazam and Photomath to add new scanning capabilities to the built-in feature.

Snap stated that the Scan functionality on the homescreen would be available initially to all iOS users. It will also be available to all Android users over the next few weeks, the company said in a press statement.

According to the statement, the user may need to download the most recent Snapchat app on their phone to experience the changes. “Once you get the update, you’ll notice that the existing Snapchat Camera icon will be replaced with the Scan feature to let you quickly access AR-based filters and lenses to discover and understand your surroundings. It will sit at the front and center of the social multimedia app alongside the existing Snap Map, Chat, Stories, and Spotlight icons,” the company added.

Snap will give ideas including Camera shortcuts and additional shopping options to users directly from the home screen of the Snapchat app by replacing the original Snapchat Camera icon with Scan. To access the same set of AR features, users have to first open Lenses and then tap the Scan button.

However, the original Camera icon will still appear when you move from the homescreen to elements including Snap Map, Chat, Stories, and Spotlight. “Snap will be continually adding new categories of intelligence to Scan, and over the next few months, people will see the Snap camera increasingly get smarter by adding more capabilities and a handful of new partner experiences,” the company said in the statement.

Related: Instagram introduces ads in its Shop tab globally

YOU MAY LIKE