Magic Leap released a rare preview of its cutting edge "mixed reality," or MR, technology today, heightening curiosity about one of the most highly anticipated innovations in recent years. According to Magic Leap founder Rony Abovitz, MR, which blends virtual reality and the physical, real world that surrounds us, is poised to replace virtually all computer screens in the next decade.
Magic Leap has been unusually secretive about its product in development. There have been none of the usual media tours, announcements or PR materials. Wired's senior reporter Kevin Kelly is one of only two journalists who has tried the exciting new Magic Leap technology so far, as reported in the May issue of the magazine.
Magic Leap technology is based on virtual reality, or synthetic-reality, as it is sometimes called. Essentially, users wear a headset that creates a simulated world. A photonic lightfield chip is at the heart of the Magic Leap technology, and while it certainly resembles a glasses lens, Abovitz rejects that label. While it showed Wired reporters the photonic chip, Magic Leap refuses to release any images or diagrams of the goggles – if, indeed, the technology will use goggles similar to other virtual reality models.
