Augmented-Reality Headset Maker Meta Secures $23 Million
[Philip Lelyveld comment: this is major because it sets a bar that Microsoft Hololens, (Google) Magic Leap, Daqri (for warehouses, hazardous situations) and others will now have to beat. The pre-order cost is $667,]
When the Portola Valley, Calif.-based startup launched its 2013 Kickstarter campaign, it fast became a darling among the early adopters, raising $2 million and logging 1,500 preorders. The headsets, which are shipping now, have a 3-D see-through display, two cameras, Dolby 3-D audio and 360-degree head tracking. The technology projects digital items, like a ball for example, into the physical world and allows people wearing the eyewear to play catch with the digital image.
Although many early endeavors in augmented reality have focused on consumer applications like gaming, the initial crop of Meta users have included enterprise applications including showrooms, warehouses and first responders going through emergency simulations.
Mr. Hamer acknowledged the technology is complex and there are still a number of hurdles to surmount before it is ready for mainstream adoption. Still, it has made progress since the company, known as Meta Company Corp., was founded in 2012.
The infusion will be used to hire more hardware and software engineers and nurture a developer community to create applications designed to run atop the headsets. The funding will also help bankroll roadshows, hackathons and developer workshops.
See the full story here: http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2015/01/28/augmented-reality-headset-maker-meta-secures-23-million/