Snap is working on a new version of its Lenses product that lets people overlay images onto landscapes in the real world, not just faces. The new technology is a notable expansion of the object recognition within Snapchat’s Lenses, one that could lead to more ad-friendly products.
The new Lenses are currently being tested on Snap’s internal version of the app, according to a person who’s used the feature. They’re an advance on a feature called “world lenses,” introduced last fall, which uses the phone’s rear-facing camera to overlay simple animations like sparkles or snow into the frame. But this new version of the technology can identify environmental elements, letting someone layer an object like a blimp in the sky.
