Spark AR shows off new augmented reality features at Facebook Connect

Published , by Ozzie Mejia

Facebook Connect has been showing off several new features for the company's various VR efforts, including all things Oculus. It's also venturing farther into the world of mobile augmented reality. Many of those efforts are being ushered in with Spark AR, which will offer some new features going forward.

Among the Spark AR reveals include a deal with the New York Times, which will offer an AR Lab to allow for experimentation. Among the things readers can expect are news stories delivered with AR enhancements via Instagram. This is part of the New York Times' continuing push into new technologies, which you can learn more about on the New York Times website.

Facebook is also integrating more of its augmented reality effects across its various channels. Third-party creators will soon able to take the effects they've created with Spark AR and integrate them in both Facebook Messenger and Facebook's Portal video assistant. While AR effects are already available on those platforms, this will be the first opportunity for third-party users to show off their work.

Spark AR looks to have come a long way since coming out of beta in August. We'll expect to see more of these AR effects going forward and more deals like the ones with the New York Times. You can learn more about Spark AR on Facebook.