Qualcomm’s 20th Annual Shareholders Meeting: Finances and Farewells

On March 6, 2012, Qualcomm held their 20th Annual Shareholders Meeting. Prior to the actual meeting, Qualcomm set up demos in the lobby of the Irwin M. Jacobs Hall at their San Diego campus.

We took a look at Qualcomm’s Vuforia augmented reality engine, which had been demonstrated previously at CES this past January. It allows a smartphone or tablet camera to identify 2D and 3D objects and enhance them with 3D graphics, video, sound, and interaction.



We got to see some of Vuforia’s capabilities which included playing virtual pool on a physical object and showing media that recognized an advertisement on a box. Vuforia also has possible implications for advertisers, as it can provide more feedback to an advertiser such as whether a consumer viewed or interacted with one of their advertisements.



We then checked out Qualcomm’s mirasol display e-readers, with offerings from Hanvon, Kyobo, Bambook, and Koobe, all currently available in Asian markets. Mirasol uses Interferometric Modulators (IMOD) which are simple MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) devices, or more simply tiny mirrors which reflect light and move in order to change light wavelengths to display colors rather than using a powered LCD or LED to illuminate the screen, making it an innovative and intriguing technology. Click here for a more in-depth description of the technology. What this technology amounts to is a full color display with incredibly low power consumption, perfect for e-readers and similar devices.



Qualcomm also showed off their 2net platform, described as a “cloud-based solution that enables the wireless transfer, storage and display of medical device data.” It provides solutions such as enabling patients to track their own medical status, such as a diabetes patient tracking their blood sugar levels and insulin usage throughout the day. This platform also allows them to send this data to a medical professional, for instant analysis. Other possibilities include an alert system for patients with heart conditions or similar afflictions. On a broader level, it allows for better and more efficient data sharing and storage between medical providers, professionals, and patients.