“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

–Arthur C. Clarke

Arthur C. Clarke knew it. My 4-year-old Marcus and 6-year-old Alyssa know it. Recently, I came across Magic Leap, an intriguing “Augmented Reality” start-up firm that might be on to it as well: Whether for structured investing or flying elephants, when you combine evidence-based inquiry with imaginary vision, the results can bring magic back into your life. 

Last week, I shared Magic Leap with my children. The simple demo video on its home page set our imaginations on fire. As a father, I was amazed to see their eyes brighten with curiosity when they saw a miniature elephant fly. It’s hard to imagine how they would react to seeing this in real life – not on a computer screen, but in front of their own eyes. The excitement in their voice was palpable as they peppered me with questions. 

“Is that real, Daddy?”    “How do they do that?”    “What else can they make fly?”    “Will we see fairies for real?” 

What an amazing world we live in. 

It’s not easy to explain Augmented Reality to 4- and 6-year-olds, especially when I’m not even sure exactly how the Magic Leap crew will pull this off. I explained to Alyssa and Marcus that we’ll likely wear some type of glasses that will cause images to appear in front of our eyes. The images won’t be “real,” but they will look very real. 

I wasn’t sure if they were getting it. Surprisingly, later that morning at breakfast, I said, “You guys are living in an amazing time. We may just see flying elephants and fairies after all.” Marcus replied, “Well, only if we wear the special glasses. And we have to wait until they are done making it.” 

Imagine the possibilities of this technology. Hollywood and video game makers would have a field day. The entertainment would feel so real they’d probably have to add a disclaimer similar to the kind you see on roller coasters: those with heart problems or anxiety conditions may want to stick to the merry-go-round. 

Education could come alive as well. Students could see history as if it were happening in real time. Complex concepts could be visualized to aid learning. Key take-aways could be reinforced with animations in creative ways. 

Financial plans could be more engaging. Clients could see interactive, 3D mind maps for considering their entire financial situation. Maybe we could animate their life’s goals with realistic views from the front porch of that dream cabin or along the road to Machu Picchu. Yeah, it may be overkill, but it would certainly make for a memorable planning experience. And why not make financial planning more fun! 

Most profoundly, it would likely change the way we interact with computers forever. We would likely shed our flat, 2D display screens for an immersive, 3D experience in which pigs, elephants and our own dreams could soar. 

Think back to when you were a kid. Do you remember when you had to “grow up a bit” and finally give up the idea you would see dragons, fairies, and flying horses with your own eyes? As you got older, the world lost some of it’s magic. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could get some of that magic back? 

As a former engineer, I love technology. (So do my dad and brother, so it must be in the genes.) It’s exciting to think about the future, and to imagine what our kids will be tinkering with as young adults. If Magic Leap pulls this off, we may actually see those dragons and fairies that we gave up on so long ago.

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