CastAR

Logo of the company castAR

CastAR was a technology company focused on the development of augmented reality (AR) glasses. The company's approach to AR involved projecting images onto a reflective surface, which then bounced back to the user's eyes, creating a holographic-like image that appeared to be in the real world. This method distinguished CastAR from other AR technologies that overlay digital content directly onto the real world through transparent lenses.

History

CastAR was founded by Jerri Ellsworth and Rick Johnson, two former Valve employees, who started the project in their garage. The company was initially part of Valve's hardware division but was spun off as an independent entity in 2013 when Valve decided to focus on virtual reality (VR) instead of AR. Following the spin-off, CastAR conducted a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund the development of their AR glasses.

Despite the initial excitement and potential, CastAR faced significant challenges. In 2017, the company abruptly shut down and laid off most of its staff due to financial difficulties. This closure marked the end of CastAR's efforts to bring their version of augmented reality to the consumer market.

Technology

CastAR's technology was based on a unique approach to augmented reality. Unlike traditional AR glasses, which use transparent displays to overlay digital images onto the real world, CastAR glasses projected images onto a specialized reflective surface. This surface was designed to reflect the light back to the glasses, which were equipped with tiny projectors and tracking sensors. The result was a 3D holographic display that users could interact with, making it suitable for a variety of applications, including gaming, education, and professional design.

The system also included a tracking system that monitored the user's head movements, allowing the projected images to adjust in real-time, providing a seamless and immersive experience.

Impact and Legacy

Although CastAR did not achieve commercial success, its innovative approach to augmented reality contributed to the broader development of AR technologies. The company's vision of creating a more interactive and immersive AR experience inspired other companies and developers to explore alternative methods of integrating digital content with the physical world.

Following the shutdown of CastAR, other companies have continued to advance AR technology, focusing on both projection-based systems and direct overlay methods. The work of CastAR remains a significant part of the history of augmented reality, demonstrating the potential and challenges of bringing AR to the consumer market.

See Also

• Augmented Reality
• Virtual Reality
• Mixed Reality
• Technology Company
• Kickstarter