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Google sharks virtual reality outfit Raxium

by on17 March 2022


LED for augmented and mixed reality devices

Google has written a cheque to buy Raxium, a "five-year-old startup that develops tiny light-emitting diodes for displays used in augmented and mixed reality devices."

So far Raxium hasn't released a product, but has been working to make Micro LEDs for tiny AR device screens.

At the moment the world+dog buys their OLED display technology from Samsung, but Micro LEDs could be the next big thing.

Fruity and nutty cargo cult Apple has spent a king's ransom on the technology and bought a Micro LED startup in 2014. Meta is partnering with Plessey for its Micro LED tech. Samsung has already selling Micro LED TVs.

Google's has been advertising for an "Augmented Reality OS" that promises to reach "billions" of people and a "Project Iris" AR headset. The hardware division also bought a company called "North," which made AR glasses that looked normal.

That "Project Iris" headset is supposedly due out in 2024.

Google has been a graveyard for AR tech. Google Cardboard, a phone-powered VR headset made out of cardboard, lasted from 2014 to 2021 (less if you got it wet). Google Daydream, a phone-powered plastic VR headset with a small controller, lasted from 2016 to 2019. Fully standalone Daydream VR headsets came out in 2018 and died with the rest of Daydream a year later. VR support was stripped out of Android in 2020, and Tilt Brush lasted from 2016-2021.

 

Last modified on 17 March 2022
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