India one of the fastest growing regions for AR technology: Facebook
Bengaluru, Sep 4: India is one of the fastest growing regions for Augmented Reality (AR) technology and Facebook is providing tools like our AR Studio for developers and creators in the country to help them create unique experiences, a top company executive said here on Tuesday.
Facebook's AR Studio is new software suite -- purpose-built for creators and developers that allow them to easily make stunning visual effects for the Facebook camera.
"India is one of the fastest growing regions for AR technology. Through our cutting-edge creative offerings, we are giving creators and developers power to build for tomorrow with emerging technologies like AR without using any expensive hardware or specialised apps," Satyajeet Singh, Head of Platform Partnerships, Facebook India and South Asia, said in a statement.
Facebook is focused on opening up the AR platform to more people, offering more utility by bringing AR to everyone and their daily habits.
"With 1.5 billion people who have access to Facebook camera today, we want to focus on providing unique experiences, and through the AR studio we are enabling creators to build new ways for them to access AR experiences," the company said as it organised an "AR Day" event here.
AR Studio is currently available on macOs and will soon be available on Windows.
"Myntra has been a pioneer in AR applications. We are looking to partner with Facebook now to bring AR effects into our brand pages, feed and stories on Facebook and to leverage the massive reach of Facebook to bring these experiences and tools to our customers across the various Facebook platforms," said Jeyandran Venugopal, CTO, Myntra.
According to Adhvith Dhuddu, Founder and CEO, AliveNow, they are excited to work on AR studio because it's opened up unique possibilities to build interesting AR experiences for brands and 1.5 billion users on Facebook.
"With face gestures, hand tracking, object recognition and more, we are building for the future with AR camera filters," he added.
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Rohit, Kohli may not play 2027 World Cup: Gavaskar backs Bumrah for Test captain
New Delhi, May 13 (PTI): Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar says he does not foresee Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing the 2027 ODI World Cup as is being widely anticipated after the duo announced its Test retirement.
Gavaskar, who regards them as colossal figures in Indian cricket, does not believe that their recent Test retirement and last year's T20 retirement will have a bearing in enhancing their chances of playing the 2027 showpiece.
"No, I don't think they will be playing," Gavaskar told 'Sports Today'.
"...I'm being very honest, I don't think they'll be there. But who knows in the next year or so, they strike this rich vein of form and they keep scoring hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and even God can't drop them."
The pair was instrumental in India's Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year.
"Well, they have been massive performers in this format of the game. Do we feel that they will be in the team for the 2027 World Cup? Will they be able to make the kind of contribution they have been making?
"So that's going to be the thought process of the selection committee. And if the selection committee feels that 'yes', they will still be making that huge contribution that they have been making, then both of them will be there for that," added Gavaskar.
The former India captain wasn't surprised by Kohli's timing and said both players might have taken the decision after conversations with selectors, and appreciated that they exited on their own terms.
"...for both these wonderful, wonderful cricketers to go out on their own terms is what everybody wanted and that's what has happened. They have gone out where they have told the world that they have had enough."
Gavaskar gave credit to the current chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar for working in the interest of Indian cricket.
"I've never been a selector, so I wouldn't know. But that is exactly what you want to do. You want to see the growth of the team. You want to see the team move forward at pace. You don't want to see the team move forward in a sluggish manner.
"Sometimes you've got to take hard decisions, hard calls, because that's what this game demands," he said.
Bumrah for Test captain
Gavaskar backed Jasprit Bumrah to be India's next Test captain, dismissing workload concerns around the injury-prone pacer.
"Jasprit Bumrah for me... if you appoint somebody else, they will always want an extra over from Bumrah because he's your number one bowler capable of taking a wicket any time, you want that extra over.
"But Bumrah being the captain himself would know that 'look, this is the time that I must take a break. Yes, I've got a wicket in my previous over but my body says to me that I need a break'," he explained his reasons.
"So for me, it's got to be Bumrah only. I know there's kind of speculation going on about workload, but give it to him so he knows exactly how many overs to bowl, when to take himself off, when to sort of rest. So that would be the best thing."
On Rohit's retirement, Gavaskar said he never chased numbers and played with effortless grace.
"Yes, people might say he could've done more," Gavaskar said.
"But Rohit always played for the joy of the game, not for personal milestones. He was content with a quick 60 or 70, taking risks even after getting set. Maybe that cost him a few centuries, but that's what made him who he was -- a player you loved to watch."
