Why Magic Leap Cannot Replace Screens

In the latest story, the secretive augmented reality startup Magic Leap just raised $827 million of funding. Now it has been hyped around the internet that augmented reality/virtual reality will be the future — they will replace our screens such as smartphones, tablets, PCs and even TV.

But I don’t think so. I believe that smartphones and other screens will still be around, alongside products and technologies that Magic Leap is developing.

Why? As seen from the recently released videos from Magic Leap, seemingly real virtual objects appear in real life, without the need for any special glasses. Everyone sees the same thing. However, the important feature of screens is their individuality — I only see my own content. Unlike a cinema or a TV screen, I read and interact with my screen, actively. In this sense, Magic Leap is more like a cinema without a screen.