Magic Leap: Mystery Virtual Reality Tech Gets $542 Million From Google And Others
Magic Leap Inc., a startup working in the augmented reality and virtual reality sectors, just secured funding from Google and other interests totaling over half a billion dollars, leading to intense speculation about the nature of the company’s technology, which some are describing as revolutionary.
According to Mashable, the investment was announced on Tuesday. Along with Google, private equity firm KKR, venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Vulcan Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, film studio Legendary Entertainment and telecom company Qualcomm all invested in Magic Leap. Though the company has kept its work tightly under wraps, Magic Leap has trademarked the terms “cinematic reality,” and “shared experience through collective imagination.”
A visitor today commented on what we are doing: pic.twitter.com/2SWILcGto9
— Magic Leap, Inc. (@magicleap) September 19, 2014
As technology blog Re/code notes, Magic Leap claims to be able to offer a more realistic virtual reality experience than its competitors. Magic Leap’s developments are thought to be centered around wearable tech that tracks a user’s eyes, projecting images directly on them. By adding computer generated images on top of what you’re naturally seeing, Magic Leap is said to be able to create convincing optical illusions. Using an infrared camera, the company is also thought to have achieved “object occlusion,” which allows their digitally modeled images to pass both in front of, and behind, naturally occurring objects.
Magic Leap team in the Indian treaty room showing off their new game #magicleaplife pic.twitter.com/djy6G5cHXn
— Magic Leap, Inc. (@magicleap) September 8, 2014
Richard Taylor, co-founder of the digital effects house Weta Workshop, currently sits on the board of directors for Magic Leap.
In a statement on the company’s website, he was forthright about his opinion of the firm’s achievements.
“What [Magic Leap CEO] Rony [Abovitz] and the Magic Leap team have created is nothing short of remarkable and will forever change the way we interact with images and information,” he said, adding “We are now at the threshold of giving people a dynamic image interface that harmonizes with their senses in a completely natural way…”
Google has entered the field of wearable virtual reality tech before, though in a decidedly different way. Earlier this year, the company released a kit called Google Cardboard, an interface system that utilized a smartphone to create a virtual reality headset, similar to competitor Oculus Rift. As The Inquisitr previously reported, Oculus Rift was purchased by Facebook for an astonishing $2 billion.
One of the rarest sights on earth: @zaphodgjd in a suit…Oh ya, also at the Whitehouse. #magicleaplife pic.twitter.com/hmHWbx78nT
— Magic Leap, Inc. (@magicleap) September 8, 2014
Reports also suggest that Magic Leap utilizes “dynamic digitized light field” technology to achieve its unique display. Thought to be launching as a platform accessible to developers and artists, rather than a distinct commercial product, Magic Leap is now valued at $2 billion after the newest round of investment.
[Images: Magic Leap via Mashable and Re/code]
