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Why Aren't VCs Backing Augmented Reality?

Source: ReadWriteWeb

Oct 29, 2009

Summary

Some people believe that Augmented Reality (AR), the class of technologies that place images or data on top of other views of the physical world, could be the web browser of the future. AR has rocketed out of the research labs and is catching mass market interest fast - from mobile phones displaying restaurant reviews when you look at a business through your phone's camera to next month's Esquire Magazine, which you'll be able to hold up to your webcam to see marker-based 3D "holograms" in your hands telling you jokes.

The International Symposium on Augmented and Extended Reality this month had major sponsors from all around the world, including Qualcomm, Volkswagon, Intel and Nokia. Despite all this energy, media darling startup Layar were reported to have raised...a mere $1 million investment from venture capitalists. Why are VCs not investing more in Augmented Reality? Here are three reasons why we think investment in this sector has been slow so far.

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