If you thought Facebook and Sony were the only companies playing around virtual reality and the likes of it, think again.
Microsoft has a plan of their own. The company has reportedly invested from $100 million to $150 million in Osterhout Design Group for devices and patents like augmented reality glasses.
Now this might not be strictly game related like Facebook’s Oculus Rift or Sony’s Project Morpheus, but augmented reality devices are a kind of virtual reality devices that work as head-borne computers.
Think of it as Microsoft’s step towards a Google Glass rival.
According to the report by TechCrunch, Microsoft has been in discussion with ODG, a low profile company that has been developing wearable gadgets for government and military, since the past seven months.
The decision to invest in at least 75 different patents was taken instead of buying the whole company in January.
Oh and among the patents, there also is one for a watch that will be connected to the augmented reality glasses in question. It will be used to control the data that will be projected through images on the glasses.
Some of the patents we are talking about have been described as ”see-through near-eye display glasses including a partially reflective, partially transmitting optical element” and “Video display modification based on sensor input for a see-through near-to-eye display.”
So what do you think? Will Microsoft be interlacing the technology with gaming? Or will it be a different device meant for being just a head-mounted computer?
Voice your opinion in the comments below!
