Ex-Valve inventor launches Kickstarter for VR glasses

Former Valve engineer and inventor Jeri Ellsworth and colleague Rick Johnson today launched a Kickstarter campaign for an all-new augmented and virtual reality system called castAR.

The campaign is seeking $400,000. At press time, funding stands at $35,787 from 141 backers. The campaign ends on November 14.

CastAR is a "projected augmented reality system" that is reportedly capable of displaying "holographic-like" 3D projections. The developers said Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope sparked their interest and imaginations for what could be possible with such technology.

"It has taken nearly 35 years since the film was released for this technological dream to come to reality, but with castAR, that reality can be yours," the developers said.

The castAR technology is made possible through two peripherals in addition to the glasses: the "Magic Wand" and the RFID Tracking Grid. The wand allows users to position items in space and control them, while the grid allows users to identify these objects (like cards or board game pieces) across the surface.

The final version of the castAR glasses are expected to weigh less than 100 grams, described as only "slightly heavier" than a normal pair of sunglasses. In addition, the castAR glasses will work on top of prescription glasses. Eye strain is not anticipated.

Ellsworth said got the idea for what would become the castAR technology in May 2012, when she was working at Valve. She was fired from Valve in February, later speaking out to say Valve's management structure "felt a lot like high school."