Snapchat has announced the acquisition of NextMind, a neurotech startup based in Paris, to aid in its long-term augmented reality research efforts. NextMind is known for its self-titled controller, which can move pictures on a PC interface using brain signals.
The development comes as the company joins Snap Lab, the social media company’s hardware research division. It also marks the conclusion of NextMind’s standalone dev kit. Future Snap products, including AR games like Camera and Spectacles, will almost probably include components of the technology.
Snap’s acquisition of NextMind is the latest in a series of AR hardware-related purchases, including its $500 million purchase of AR display developer WaveOptics last year.
