Apple Bought Augmented Reality Headset Company Vrvana

Apple recently purchased Vrvana, a company that developed an augmented reality headset called Totem, reports TechCrunch.

Two sources with knowledge of the deal confirmed the acquisition, but Apple declined to comment and did not provide its usual acquisition statement. TechCrunch says Apple did not deny the story, though, and several employees who were previously with Vrvana are now with Apple.

totemvrvana
Apple is said to have paid $30 million for Vrvana, and the deal may have taken place this summer. Vrvana's website is still up and running, but social media accounts ceased updates in August.

Vrvana developed a sort of mixed reality headset called Totem, which was never released. It was designed to combine both augmented and virtual reality technologies in a single headset, merging full VR capabilities with pass-through cameras to enable screen-based augmented reality features.

Essentially, Totem used a set of cameras to project real world images into its built-in 1440p OLED display, a somewhat unique approach that set it apart from competing products like Microsoft's HoloLens, which uses a transparent display to combine virtual and augmented reality. With Totem's approach, much richer virtual experiences were available, as full VR objects could be combined with a real-world view.

The built-in cameras were used to track the device's position in space, and additional infrared cameras were used to detect a user's hands. Several media sites were able to check out the Totem last year, and it received largely positive reviews.

Totem's technology could be built into a future Apple device, as multiple rumors suggest Apple is working on some kind of augmented reality headset or smart glasses product.

Apple is said to be building an AR headset that features a dedicated display, a built-in processor, and a new "rOS" operating system. The company is aiming to finish work on its augmented reality headset by 2019, and a finished product could be ready to ship as soon as 2020, should the project progress on schedule.

While Apple has acquired other augmented reality companies like Metaio, Faceshift, Flyby Media, and SensoMotoric Instruments, this is the first dedicated AR/VR headset hardware company Apple has purchased, signaling a deep interest in developing some kind of AR/VR wearable device.

Related Roundup: AR/VR Headset

Top Rated Comments

deanthedev Avatar
70 months ago
AR is so 6 years ago - it is like they living in a time warp when it comes to computing now. I guess when most your line up cant do VR you need to stick with AR.
Is that why Google spent so much on Tango, then quickly came out with ARCore (to allow AR on regular phones without Tango hardware) after seeing Apple release ARKit? You should also tell developers AR is old news so they can all stop rushing to develop Apps for a “dead-end” technology.

And what mobile devices can do VR? Answer: None.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diegov12 Avatar
70 months ago
AR is so 6 years ago - it is like they living in a time warp when it comes to computing now. I guess when most your line up cant do VR you need to stick with AR.
VR is so overpriced and so 3 years ago.
unlike AR, which is free to everyone without having to buy extra hardware.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
70 months ago
Did Apple do this many acquisitions with Steve around? Seems like they're just trying to buy out ideas instead of coming up with their own. And with this many acquisitions, they're still not as innovative as when Steve was around.
Some things that Apple acquired under Steve Jobs the pretty much impact every Apple product we see today:

SoundJam MP
Emagic
FingerWorks
P.A. Semi
Intrinsity
C3 Technologies

Google and Microsoft acquire as much if not moreso than Apple. Are they buying out ideas instead of coming up with their own?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
70 months ago
Why is Apple so interested in AR?
I don’t see a need for it.
Perhaps not now, but in a decade this technology will be ubiquitous. There’s an awful lot of potential and we’re barely tickling the iceberg at this point.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
santaliqueur Avatar
70 months ago
$30 million is cash from the small change box
Based upon Apple's projections for the upcoming holiday quarter, they will make $30 million every 1h 21m.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
randyj Avatar
70 months ago
Why is Apple so interested in AR?
I don’t see a need for it. A bit like Siri really.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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