Magic Leap to Build OS for Augmented Reality

Magic Leap – the augmented reality start – up doesn’t want to build a new virtual world for you but instead wants to build on the top of what we already have. Rony Abovitz, chief executive said on Tuesday that they are trying to build “an operating system for reality.” Recently Abovitz was interviewed at the WSJD tech conference where he discussed about the progress of the company after an investment of $542 million by the tech giant Google. Magic leap is up to developing an eye glass like device capable of projecting computer generated images over the real life environment. The company has sent out invitations to developers for building apps based up on this technology.

A part of the Motorola phone factory located in South Florida has been taken over by Magic Leap to set up a “new product production line.” Abovitz said that there more than 100 people working here now including both computer scientists and rocket scientists. He said, “We’re not in the research lab doing theoretical things. We’re gearing up to ship millions of things.” However, he declined to answer about the quantity of devices it will ship and when.

There is a difference between the virtual reality technology being developed by Magic leap and other companies such as Oculus VR of Facebook. Oculus plans to launch its headset in 2016. On the other side, magic leap is focusing on “augmented reality.”  Abovitz said, “Everyone has an amazing head-mounted display—it’s your head. Magic Leap aims at blending your real world and those images and create an experience which Abovitz calls as “part-Matrix, part-Harry Potter.”

The company displayed a video on October 14 showing the appearance of images through its lenses. One scene shows a small robot hiding under a desk and interacting with the user. This, the company says is an example of how people in real world can “play” with the virtual objects. Abovitz said, “The robot can react to users and navigate a room, but is about as smart as an ant.” Another scene shows a solar system being beamed over a desk top. This example relates to Magic Leap’s experimentation with light.

Magic Leap hosts “app fests” wherein developers try to build different features and games. In one such fest developers created a tool that teaches someone to cook mac and cheese by projecting a cookbook and stove. Abovitz said, “in case you’re in college and you don’t know what you’re doing.” The Magic Leap tools aren’t open for everybody before the launch. Presently the augmented reality start up is focused on entertainment, media, gaming and communication.

Image Source: wsj.com