From CNBC: 2024-09-26 08:00:01

Distance Technologies, a Finnish startup, raises 10 million euros in funding from Alphabet’s GV and other investors. The company develops technology to turn any transparent surface into an augmented-reality display without the need for clunky headsets or glasses, primarily targeting auto, aerospace, and defense markets.

The technology works by tracking eye movements, computing the correct light field for each eye, and beaming images onto the focusing points. The system is capable of infinite pixel depth, creating a life-size field of view in any setting. GV invested in Distance for its potential to build the next generation of user interfaces in automotive and aerospace markets.

Commercializing mixed reality faces challenges due to the high cost of devices like Apple’s Vision Pro and Microsoft’s HoloLens 2, which start at $3,500. Meta recently unveiled an AR glasses concept costing $10,000 per unit to make. Distance’s system covers the entire surface of any transparent display, unlike traditional automotive AR HUDs, driven primarily by software.

Distance showcased a proof-of-concept at the Augmented World Expo in 2024 and plans to advance optics technology next year. CEO Urho Konttori emphasized the shift from research to product development, working closely with customers to finalize product specifications for their revolutionary mixed-reality technology.

Read more: Google backs Distance, startup bringing mixed reality to cars, planes