One could argue that since 2007 the world's been waiting for the next mass-adoption consumer tech product. For some time now Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) has been touted as 'the next big thing'...

Following Facebook's acquisition of Oculus in 2014, VC investment in VR/AR companies tripled. Problem was, VR provided an isolated and disortientating experience... so attention then switched to AR, whereby images are layered over your 'real-world' vision.

The AR industy has - so far - been notorious for overpromising and underdelivering, perhaps nobody more so than Florida-based Magic Leap. Having raised $2.6BN in funding, when their product finally demo'd it resembled 'Biggles wearing a jet pack' (if not familiar, see image).

The challenge is mass producing a lens that gives a quality image, with low power consumption, at the right price point and with the right form factor. In English: it looks cool, is comfortable to wear, you can afford it, and it's 'useful' - in the same way you found your first smartphone to be 'useful'.

It's heartening and refreshing that a home-grown UK company, backed by a home-grown VC (Octopus Ventures) is leading the field in this respect. WaveOptics released their 'Katana' lens last week... everything is about to change... finally... watch this space...