AR startup DAQRI is reportedly closing its doors by the end of September. During its nearly 10-year run, DAQRI focused on creating business-oriented augmented reality headsets.
DAQRI Shutdown
DAQRI headquarters is reportedly shut down, many of its employees have been laid off, and the company is already trying to sell its assets. The company that was founded in 2010 is getting ready to close its doors by the end of the month.
There is so far no specific reason given behind the shutdown, but reports indicate that DAQRI is having difficulties in selling its products and of investors being less interested in funding AR start-ups. That said, DAQRI is not the only AR company to shut down of late. Intel abandoned its smart glasses project in 2018, and in January of 2019 Meta closed down, closely followed by Osterhout Design Group.
DAQRI Products
DAQRI was open for business for almost 10 years and within that time, it focused mostly on business-oriented AR headsets. In 2016, DAQRI released AR headsets that were intended to make industrial jobs easier, and the year after it released a smaller version priced at $4,995.
Also in 2017, DAQRI wearable devices were used by United Kingdom-based Touch Surgery to provide immersive and modern training on various surgical procedures. That year, DAQRI reportedly raised $275 million in venture capital.
State of AR
“DAQRI Worksense™ and DAQRI Smart Glasses® link digital content to the real world to accelerate productivity, communication, and key business processes,” DAQRI notes on its website. “From the office to the factory floor, DAQRI customers improve workplace efficiency, safety, and their bottom line.”
However, DAQRI reportedly had difficulties in selling more of its products partly because of difficulties in training people to use the futuristic gear. While there is still no word on what exactly was the reason for the company to close its doors, it is clear that developing AR is no easy feat, and so is easing people into such kinds of modern gear.
For now, it seems as though it is up to major players such as Lenovo, Apple, and Microsoft to lead AR development.
