Apple Buys Image Recognition Startup
January 30 2016 - 2:02AM
Dow Jones News
(FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 1/30/16)
By Daisuke Wakabayashi and Jack Nicas
Apple Inc. is accelerating its efforts in augmented and virtual
reality, hiring industry experts and recently acquiring a startup
specializing in image recognition.
The acquisition of New York-based Flyby Media is the latest in a
series of deals to bolster Apple's long-running interest in
augmented and virtual reality. Apple's team investigating the
technologies has grown to more than 100 people, according to people
familiar with the company.
Flyby Media provided the image-recognition software for Google's
Project Tango -- an effort to use a smartphone's sensors and
cameras to create a kind of three-dimensional map of a user's
surroundings.
An Apple spokeswoman confirmed it had acquired Flyby Media. She
declined to elaborate on the deal terms or Apple's interest in
virtual or augmented reality. The Financial Times earlier reported
the acquisition and Apple's push into augmented reality and virtual
reality.
Virtual reality uses headsets and headphones to immerse users in
experiences that appear to be all around them. Augmented, or mixed,
reality displays digital objects in users' view of the physical
world -- typically via headsets but also via smartphones or tablets
-- much like the yellow first-down line shown on football
broadcasts.
On a Tuesday, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook was asked whether
he considered virtual reality a mainstream technology or a geeky
niche. "I don't think it's a niche," Mr. Cook said. "It's really
cool and has some interesting applications."
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 30, 2016 02:47 ET (07:47 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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