Magic Leap

Magic Leap is a US startup company that is working on a head-mounted virtual retinal display which superimposes 3D computer-generated imagery over real world objects, by projecting a digital light field into the user’s eye.[1][2] It is attempting to construct a light-field chip using silicon photonics.[3]

History

Magic Leap was founded by Rony Abovitz in 2010.[4] In October 2014, when the company was still operating in stealth mode (but already reported to be working on projects relating to augmented reality and computer vision), it had raised more than $540 million of venture funding from Google,[5] Qualcomm, Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins, among other investors.[6][7] Richard Taylor of special effects company Weta Workshop is involved in Magic Leap alongside Abovitz.[8] Science fiction author Neal Stephenson joined the company in December 2014.[1] Graeme Devine is their Chief Creative Officer & Senior VP Games, Apps and Creative Experiences.[9]

According to past versions of its website, the startup evolved from a company named “Magic Leap Studios” which around 2010 was working on a graphic novel and a feature film series, and in 2011 became a corporation, releasing an augmented reality app at Comic-Con that year.[8]

A November 2014 analysis by Gizmodo, based on job listings, trademark registrations and patent applications from Magic Leap, concluded that the company appears to aim at building “a Google Glass on steroids that can seamlessly blend computer-generated graphics with the real world”.[8] It has also been compared to Microsoft HoloLens.[1]

Before Magic Leap, a head-mounted display using light fields was already demonstrated by Nvidia in 2013, and the MIT Media Lab has also constructed a 3D display using “compressed light fields”; however Magic Leap asserts that it achieves better resolution with a new proprietary technique that projects an image directly onto the user’s retina.[4] According to a researcher who has studied the company’s patents, Magic Leap is likely to use stacked silicon waveguides.[3]

On March 19, 2015 Magic Leap released a demo video titled “Just another day in the office at Magic Leap”. The video includes augmented reality gaming and productivity applications but it was unclear if the video was actual footage using their technology or a simulated experience.[10]

On October 10, 2015 Magic Leap released actual footage of their product. While still not showing any hardware, the footage was filmed through a Magic Leap device without the use of special effects or compositing. The video demonstrated 3D spatial mapping with obstruction technology and apparent reflections of virtual objects interacting with real objects.[11]

On December 9, 2015, Forbes reported on documents filed in the state of Delaware indicating a Series C funding round of $827m. This funding round could bring the company’s total funding to $1.4 billion, and its post-money valuation to $3.7 billion.[12]

On February 2, 2016, Financial Times reported Magic Leap further raised another funding round of close to $800m, valuing the startup at $4.5 billion.[13]

On February 11, 2016, Silicon Angle reported Magic Leap had joined the Entertainment Software Association.[14]

In April, 2016, Magic Leap acquired Israeli cybersecurity company NorthBit.

Rony Abovitz

Rony Abovitz is an American entrepreneur, founder and CEO of augmented reality startup Magic Leap.[1][2] In October 2014, the startup raised over $540 million of venture funding from Google and other investors.[3]

Prior to Magic Leap, Abovitz co-founded MAKO Surgical Corp., a company manufacturing surgical robotic arm assistance platforms. He attended the University of Miami, where he obtained a master’s degree in biomedical engineering.