Following years of rumors, teases and speculation, we now have our first look at what the Magic Leap augmented reality goggles look like and that is an apt word to describe them. While virtual reality headsets feature a blocky design with a big plastic overlay or fabric covering, the Magic Leap headset has a pair of quite literal goggles that fit over your eyes and allow for true, wireless, mixed reality.
Although key specifications for how its lightfield technology works remain under wraps for now, we can infer quite a bit of information about this early reveal, to give us an idea of how it will operate.
The Magic Leap is entirely wireless, hooking up to a processing and battery pack that clips on to the user's waste. This means that there is no PC attachment that needs to be made, lowering the bar for entry for first-time buyers. The remote control is also wireless, offering basic inputs. Other inputs will include gesture and voice commands, though gaze control may also be possible.
The lack of exterior trackers means that the Magic Leap will leverage camera-based, inside-out tracking, thereby letting you move around freely in any environment. We're told that it can now only track walls, floors and ceilings, but also objects and furniture, which makes it possible for augmented reality characters and items to interact with the real world. That could mean having a digital character run across your couch, or a VR table overlay your real one, before exploding as the robot bursts through the floor underneath it.
Magic Leap won't be just about creating digital characters for games though. You'll also be able to leverage virtual displays for productivity, bring up AR videos for instructional purposes and conduct virtual voice and video calls with loved ones.
We don't have a release date of the Magic Leap yet beyond a vague 2018 date, though we do know a Creators Edition will be going out to developers shortly.
