MAGIC LEAP
THE DEVICE
Magic Leap is the new Florida-based company developing a very buzzed-about augmentedreality device of the same name. The Magic Leap will integrate realistic three-dimensional
images and animations with the user’s real, observed world. There is no release date yet for the
product, and the company has not indicated when it might appear in consumer hands. Magic
Leap was the first company to publicly announce plans for advanced augmented reality (a
substantial “leap” over devices like Google Glass), but we still know relatively few specifics
about what the company plans for the device. Despite the secrecy, some major investors have
poured huge amounts of money into the project, including a Google investment of $542 million.
Most of what is known about the technical aspects of the device come from Magic Leap patent
filings, which industry writers have mined for info and summarized in trade publications. At the
time of writing, the patent application remains the only source of a sketch of what a Magic Leap
prototype might look like. Currently, questions about the functionality of the Magic Leap may be
best answered by the debut of its only major competitor—the Microsoft Hololens. Microsoft’s
device has already been demonstrated for the public, providing the only direct window into
advanced augmented reality applications—gaming, education, video viewing, and exploration—
yet available.
Magic Leap White Sheet Written by Walker McKnight
Most VR and augmented reality devices rely on stereoscopic 3D technology, which has been
around for ages and can cause disorientation and nausea in its users even despite recent
improvements. Both the Hololens and Magic Leap, however, have developed new methods. The
Hololens creates the illusion of three-dimensional images inside a pair of lenses, and Magic Leap
will use a fiber optic projector to beam digital light fields directly onto the user’s retinas. The
Magic Leap’s complex software will map the user’s own position and eye movement and mix in
digital light field technology to make the projected objects appear to exist in external reality.
Magic Leap’s use of light beamed directly onto retinas presumably solves the problem of limited
range of projection, which may give it a boost over the Hololens’ capabilities. Users of the
Hololens are limited to a 120 degree by 120 degree field of operation because the image creation
is restricted to the lens field of the glasses. Rachel Metz of the MIT Technology Review seemed
to confirm as much in her experience comparing demos of the two devices, describing the
Hololens’ inability to mask her peripheral vision as a major detractor to the realism of the
images.
One key component of Magic Leap will be the use of “totems.” Totems can be any physical
object that the programming designates as such; for example, a block of wood could act as a
mouse. An object specifically manufactured for the Magic Leap might be a rubber keyboard onto
which the device projects typeface characters. Gesture-based controls like pinching will also be
integrated.
Magic Leap is also developing proprietary “sensorywear.” Sensorywear will comprise the headmounted display and peripherals, which include gloves that can provide tactile feedback. There
are images of wearable tech in the patent filings as well, including watches and rings that may
interface with the device.
The level to which developers have access to Magic Leap is unclear, although the design
software has likely not yet been released. The official Magic Leap website has a cryptic message
to developers about the “tight-lipped” status of the project; it invites interested parties to fill out a
form and wait to hear back from the company.
Magic Leap White Sheet Written by Walker McKnight
Magic Leap has also not released a list of compatible platforms for the device (or whether it will
be a stand-alone computer). Also unclear is whether Magic Leap will be intended for inhome/office use (like the Hololens) or use in the everyday outside world (like Google Glass).
MARKETING
Magic Leap’s marketing differs considerably from Microsoft’s marketing of the Hololens, likely
due to the current stage of development. Magic Leap’s homepage and related websites focus less
on technical issues and more on the idea of bringing magic back into the world.
No less a visionary than Neal Stephenson, author of Snow Crash and a “futurist” with Magic
Leap, recently wrote a blog post on the company website explaining his belief that this new
technology may have finally caught up with his vision.
GAMING & VIDEO VIEWING
Magic Leap already has games under development. One game is described as a first-person
shooter that promises an immersive experience with ray guns and “wave” weaponry. Another
called “Magic Leap’s Monster Battle” is described by Gizmodo as “as a shared world where
players each have customizable virtual pets that follow their finger and can (presumably) battle
with one another.” Traditional game controllers will be usable as control tools (along with
totems) by Magic Leap.
Magic Leap has also trademarked some titles under the category of “comic books,” which may
indicate forthcoming augmented reality comic titles.
Video viewing is likely to proceed along the same lines as those offered by the Microsoft
Hololens, which has released video of individuals watching Netflix content projected into the air.
Magic Leap’s capacity for video resolution is not yet clear.
Magic Leap White Sheet Written by Walker McKnight
EDUCATION
Augmented reality’s educational potential is immense. Though we know little about Magic
Leap’s specific plans in this area, it is easy to imagine the usefulness of remote instruction
through virtual classrooms and guided demonstrations. Microsoft has already successfully
demonstrated remote instruction by having an expert guide a user wearing the Hololens through
complex home repair tasks. We can expect Magic Leap’s capabilities to be equally impressive.
RELATED PRODUCTS
The Magic Leap’s only major competitor to date is the Microsoft Hololens, as mentioned above
and in the following companion white paper: http://www.daelab.com/microsoft-hololens/. The
Hololens is expected to reach the consumer market long before the Hololens.
Rachel Metz of the MIT Technology Review, the only writer to compare personal experiences
with both devices, gave much higher marks to Magic Leap. She described its three-dimensional
images as much crisper and clearer and found the device to have a much wider range of vision.
The Hololens, however, is far ahead in level of portability and freedom of physical motion.
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS
The biggest potential problem facing Magic Leap is its ability secure FDA approval for the
projection of digital light fields directly onto the retina. Even if proven safe in trials, there is still
a marketing challenge in mitigating public fear about long-term damage to the eye.
A major reason for the company’s secrecy may also be slow development of the technology for
consumer use. Magic Leap yet to publicly demonstrate that they can shrink the technology
sufficiently to provide comfortable headwear; testers as late as February 2015 describe private
demos as occurring via very large prototypes resembling an optometrist’s diagnostic rig. This
suggests that the company may have significant work ahead before the technology can be
comfortably worn on a user’s face with full freedom of movement.
READ MORE
Official Magic Leap Site: http://www.magicleap.com/
Magic Leap blog: http://www.magicleap.com/#/blog
Magic Leap Patent Filing Details: http://www.wired.com/2015/01/magic-leaps-vision-forvirtual-reality/
Magic Leap White Sheet Written by Walker McKnight
Technology Review of Magic Leap: http://www.technologyreview.com/news/532001/howmagic-leaps-augmented-reality-works/
Gizmodo Rundown: http://gizmodo.com/how-magic-leap-is-secretly-creating-a-new-alternaterea-1660441103
Fast Company: http://www.fastcodesign.com/3041174/48-crazy-ui-ideas-coming-from-the-500million-stealth-startup-magic-leap
MIT Review: http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/534971/magic-leap/
Comparing Hololens and Magic Leap: http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535806/realitycheck-comparing-hololens-and-magic-leap/?utm_campaign=newsletters
Magic Leap White Sheet Written by Walker McKnight