CastAR

castAR was founded by two former Valve employees;{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/18/4343382/technical-illusions-valve-augmented-reality-glasses-jeri-ellsworth-rick-johnson|title=How two Valve engineers walked away with the company's augmented reality glasses|last1=Hollister|first1=Sean|date=18 May 2013|publisher=The Verge|accessdate=13 June 2014}} the castAR glasses were born out of work that started inside Valve.{{cite web|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ar-vr-technology-discussion,3811-9.html|title=The Past, Present, And Future Of VR And AR: The Pioneers Speak|last1=Nelson|first1=Fritz|last2=Yam|first2=Marcus|date=30 April 2014|publisher=Tom's Hardware|accessdate=13 June 2014}} While still at Valve, their team had spent over a year working on the project. They obtained legal ownership of their work after their departure.

In August 2015, Playground Global funded $15 million into castAR to build its product and create augmented-reality experiences. In August 2016, Darrell Rodriguez, former President of LucasArts, joined as the new CEO.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/08/18/augmented-reality-firm-castar-recruits-former-lucasarts-chief-darrell-rodriguez-as-its-ceo|title=Augmented reality firm CastAR recruits former LucasArts chief Darrell Rodriguez as its CEO|last1=Takahashi|first1=Dean|date=18 August 2016|publisher=VentureBeat|accessdate=18 August 2016}} In addition, Steve Parkis became President and COO, after leading teams at The Walt Disney Company and Zynga.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/08/18/augmented-reality-firm-castar-recruits-former-lucasarts-chief-darrell-rodriguez-as-its-ceo|title=Augmented reality firm CastAR recruits former LucasArts chief Darrell Rodriguez as its CEO|last1=Takahashi|first1=Dean|date=18 August 2016|publisher=VentureBeat|accessdate=18 August 2016}} In September 2016, they opened castAR Salt Lake City, a new development studio formed from a team hired out of the former Avalanche Software, which worked on the Disney Infinity series.{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/15/augmented-reality-studio-castar-picks-up-disney-infinity-devs/|title=Augmented reality studio castAR picks up 'Disney Infinity' devs|last1=Conditt|first1=Jessica|date=15 September 2016|publisher=Engadget|accessdate=15 September 2016}}

In October 2016, they announced the acquisition of Eat Sleep Play, the developer best known for Twisted Metal, also in Salt Lake City, UT.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-11-02-castar-adds-entire-eat-sleep-play-dev-team-to-utah-studio|title = CastAR hires entire Eat Sleep Play dev team| date=2 November 2016 }}

In December 2016, Parkis, who had been President and COO, was named CEO to replace Rodriguez.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

In June 2017, it was reported by Polygon that CastAR was shutting down, laying off 70 employees.{{cite news|last1=Crecente|first1=Brian|title=Former Valve initiative CastAR shuts down|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/26/15877804/castar-shut-down|accessdate=27 June 2017|publisher=Polygon|date=26 June 2017}} A core group of administrators was expected to remain, to sell off the company's technology.

In September 2019 Jeri Ellsworth initiated a Kickstarter for a new device based on the same principles called Tilt Five. The company uses CastAR technology acquired from the former startup and is founded by CastAR alumni Jeri Ellsworth, Amy Herndon, Jamie Gennis, and Anthony Aquilio{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/24/20881355/tilt-five-castar-augmented-reality-glasses-jeri-ellsworth-kickstarter|title=Jeri Ellsworth's unique AR glasses are back from the dead|last=Hollister|first=Sean|date=2019-09-24|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}

File:Jeri Ellsworth from Technical Illusions explains castAR to GDC Next 2013 attendees.jpg Next 2013 attendees]]

The castAR glasses combine elements of augmented reality and virtual reality.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/05/31/how-to-get-your-own-personal-holodeck/|title=How to get your own personal Holodeck, courtesy of gaming goddess Jeri Ellsworth|last1=O'Dell|first1=Jolie|date=31 May 2014|publisher=VentureBeat|accessdate=13 June 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2014/05/vr-hardware-moving-along-three-separate-paths/|title=VR hardware moving along three separate paths|last1=Korolov|first1=Maria|date=23 May 2014|publisher=Hypergrid Business|accessdate=13 June 2014}} After winning Educator's and Editor's Choice ribbons at the 2013 Bay Area Maker Faire,{{cite web|url=http://www.gizmag.com/3d-augmented-reality-castar-maker-faire/29149/|title=Technical Illusions debuts Cast AR augmented reality glasses|last1=Hoopes|first1=Heidi|date=23 September 2013|publisher=Gizmag|accessdate=13 June 2014}} the castAR project was successfully crowdfunded via Kickstarter. castAR surpassed its funding goal two days after the project went live,{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/16/castar-funded-with-29-days-to-go|title=castAR Funded With 29 Days To Go|last1=Mahardy|first1=Mike|date=16 Oct 2013|publisher=IGN|accessdate=13 June 2014}} and raised over $1 million on a $400,000 goal. castAR creates transparent stereoscopic images unique to each user by sending an image from tiny projectors on the glasses into the user's surroundings using a technology that Technical Illusions called "Projected Reality". The image bounces off a retro-reflective surface back to the wearer's eyes. castAR can also be used for virtual reality purposes, using its VR clip-on. Before the time of the 2017 company shutdown all Kickstarter funds had been paid back to the original backers. Along with the repayment, a coupon for a free set of the production AR glasses was given to each backer. This happened at the time of the 2015 Playground Global investment.

• Augmented reality
• Display technology
• Smartglasses

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Official website|castar.com}}
• {{Kickstarter|technicalillusions/castar-the-most-versatile-ar-and-vr-system|castAR}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF4KuikvVwE Jeri Ellsworth on the demise of CastAR]

{{AR and VR}}

Category:Augmented reality

Category:Companies based in Palo Alto, California

Category:Display technology

Category:Eyewear companies of the United States

Category:Kickstarter-funded products

Category:Video game companies based in Utah

Category:Virtual reality companies