Augmented-reality startup Magic Leap nabs $542M from Google, others
[Philip Lelyveld comment: Congratulations to Michael Leventhal, Vice President Corporate Legal & Business Affairs at Magic Leap, Inc. --- Oculus already announced their intention to make an AR version of their headset. It will come down to the richness of the ecosystem that they, or some other companies, build. (I'm working with the 'other' companies.)]
The search giant led a $542 million investment round in a startup called Magic Leap, which hopes to eventually replace computer and smartphone screens with virtual-reality interfaces. The company, founded in 2011 and based in Florida, makes a head-mounted device that acts like glasses. Turn the technology on, and it displays computer-generated images on top of what a wearer normally sees.
Now Google is investing in Magic Leap as well. And its interest goes beyond giving the company money: Sundar Pichai, the Google executive in charge of the company's Android mobile operating system and Chrome Web browser, will join Magic Leap's board of directors.
"We are looking forward to Magic Leap's next stage of growth, and to seeing how it will shape the future of visual computing," Pichai said in a statement.
See the full story here: http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/augmented-reality-startup-nabs-542m-from-google-others/