Google-Backed Magic Leap Showcases Its Augmented Reality Technology

By Manish Singh | Updated: 21 October 2015 18:49 IST

Magic Leap, a US-based augmented reality startup backed by Google, on Tuesday gave users a glimpse into some of the things it is working on. At the WSJDLive event, the company previewed a video clip which showed off the capabilities of its augmented reality technology.

The video shows a three-dimensional robot that appears to be waving to the viewer. In a later part of the video, the company demonstrated (via Engadget) a rotating solar system. The caption of the video said that it was "shot directly through Magic Leap technology" without any special effects or compositing.

At the event, Rony Abovitz, the company's president and CEO, announced a number of developments. He said that his company is gearing up to build millions of devices. While he noted that at this point of time the company doesn't have a concrete launch time-frame in mind, he added that the video should be evident that the launch is not far. The company promises that everything you're able to do on your smartphone, you will be able to do that on its upcoming AR device as well.

Prior to the event, the startup was mostly secretive about what it does, and what it intends to do in the coming months. The video, the company made available also is only the second video it has posted on YouTube. In March earlier this year, the company posted a concept video to visualise how its AR can be used to play a game and surf email. Furthermore, the company had noted that the game shown in the video was already being played by its employees. Google invested heavily in Magic Leap in October last year. The startup has raised $592 million (roughly Rs. 3,857 crores) in funding thus far.

Magic Leap's upcoming augmented reality device appears set to compete with Microsoft's HoloLens and Google's Glass wearables, and the Mountain View firm may just enjoy the benefits of Magic Leap's technology for future wearables.

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