Augmented reality startup Meta grabs virtual objects by hand

In the “Iron Man” movies, hero Tony Stark waves his hands in midair to manipulate holographic computer images while designing his high-tech fighting suit.

[...] Meta CEO Meron Gribetz says the technology could eventually make all forms of computing more natural and intuitive.

The glasses take flat, two-dimensional images — now displayed on a computer or smartphone screen — and turn them into three-dimensional holographic images that seem to float in front of the wearer’s eyes.

Unlike virtual reality headsets, which block out the real world to create a fully immersive scene, the Meta Two uses a see-through display that projects images in the actual world.

During a brief demonstration last week, I picked up a virtual athletic shoe, stretched it to make the view bigger, spun it around to look at all sides and pulled it closer to view the inner sole.

Christian Jacob, a University of Calgary professor who tested Meta’s first prototype, used it to create holographic anatomy programs for medical schools.

Gribetz, who unveiled the Meta Two last month to a select group of people at the TED conference, believes augmented reality can ultimately replace desktop computers, monitors and mobile devices.

When Meta released its first prototype, the company thought half its market would be in the entertainment industry.

There are a dozen competitors around the world working on similar devices, so it’s far too early to tell which will be successful, said Bill Briggs, chief technology officer for Deloitte Consulting.

Last week, Deloitte released the report that called virtual reality and augmented reality devices “shiny objects,” more intriguing than useful.

Briggs said the technology has now advanced enough that corporate technology planners should pay attention and start experimenting with ways the devices could be used for training, maintenance or inventory management.