Apple Inc. is opening up some new possibilities for augmented reality developers with its next ARKit update, which the company revealed today.

Announced in June at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference, ARKit bundles several AR creation tools into a single framework, making it easier for developers to create and publish their own AR media and apps for Apple devices. ARKit handles one of the most difficult aspects of AR development, which is detecting real-world surfaces where the AR content can be anchored, creating the illusion that the content is actually part of the user’s environment.

ARKit already detects complex objects such as faces, such as with Apple’s own animoji features. It also detects flat surfaces such as tables and desks, but Apple’s tools have not been so great with vertical surfaces, namely walls and doors. That will change with the new update, and while it may not sound like much, Apple said vertical surface detection will open up “even more immersive AR experiences that better integrate with the world.”

Now, Apple said, ARKit can more accurately map irregularly shaped surfaces such as circular tables and, using computer vision techniques, recognize the position of two-dimensional images such as signs, posters and artwork. As a result, it can meld the images into AR experiences, such as “filling a museum with interactive exhibits or bringing a movie poster to life.” The view through the camera now, Apple added, has 50 percent greater resolution and supports auto-focus.

The ARKit update headlined a number of features Apple announced today as part of the upcoming iOS 11.3 update, which will arrive later this spring. Some other features coming with the update include the ability to add user health records to the Health App, the release of more animoji characters, a software authentication tool for HomeKit and more. Apple also announced Business Chat, which will allow companies to communicate with customers through the iOS Messages app.

Not least, the new iOS update will also allow owners of older iPhone models to see if their device speed is being throttled on account of battery problems, and if so they can choose to disable it. Apple had been secretly throttling older iPhones until it was forced to come clean in December, which resulted in a number of lawsuits against the company for allegedly trying to trick users into upgrading to newer iPhones rather than simply buying another battery.

Photo: Apple