CastAR

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CastAR are augmented reality smartglasses developed by an augmented reality hardware and software US company Technical Illusions, a spin-off company founded by former employees of Valve Corporation Jeri Ellsworth and Rick Johnson in 2013.[1] Apart from the augmented reality features, it can also virtually embed visual elements in the real world based on what the user is looking at (see Main characteristics). The company plans to focus on the social aspects of gaming, and streamlining the experience of using the device so everyone can "open the box, put on the glasses and play."[2] There are separate teams working on virtual experiences for the device, mainly a boardgame, surgery simulation, and a "Star Trek holodeck-like" experience.[2]

The reason the company has chosen augmented reality of full virtual reality is that, by the opinion of the company's CEO, and the co-founder, augmented reality fits in the way people already play. In the interview for Geeks of Doom, the company leadership discussed their idea of "shared personalised environment."[2] This shared space is a combination of virtual and actual environment around the user but it separate to the individual users. In the sense of a augmented reality boardgame, this means that individual players see the game elements only relevant to them, e.g. a war game's fog of war can be different to different players.[2]

The company successfully funded the project via Kickstarter on 15th November 2013.[3]

CastAR
Castar 1.jpg
Category smartglasses
Developer Technical Illusion
Announced May 2013[4]
Released Developers: 22 November 2014[5]
Consumers: Q4 2015
Price 400 USD (pre-order)[6]
Operating system unknown
Display projector
Resolution 1280x720 pixels
Weight 100 g
Controls gaze, inertial, controller
Standalone[7]
http://castar.com/


Main characteristics

Purpose

Company & People

Important Dates

Ethical Issues

Health Risks

Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment

Public & Media Impact and Presentation

Public Policy

Related Technologies, Projects or Scientific Research

References

  1. http://castar.com/about-us/
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 PAX Prime 2015: castAR Interview. Geeks of Doom [online]. 2015, 9 October. Available online at: http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2015/10/09/pax-prime-2015-castar-interview (Retrieved 12 November 2015))
  3. https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/technicalillusions/created
  4. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/castar-augmented-reality,3742.html
  5. MOON, Mariella. CastAR team ships out first pair of AR glasses, more to follow soon. Engadget [online]. 2014, 23 November. Available online at: http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/23/castar-shipping/ (Retrieved 10 November 2015))
  6. https://technical-illusions.myshopify.com/
  7. Shows if the device is a standalone wearable computer or if it needs to be connected to a processing unit to function.