The castAR Kickstarter is bringing virtual and augmented reality to life. The system gives the user the ability to see 3d holographic projections in front of them for a fully immersive experience.
The glasses create the images by using two microprojectors attached to the frames. The projectors each shine a portion of the image to a special surface and your eyes see three dimensional objects existing on top of the surface.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/technicalillusions/castar-the-most-versatile-ar-and-vr-system
The applications aren't limited to gaming, but the focus currently resides in the gaming community. An incredible example from the Kickstarter video shows a dungeon master using a wall 'stamp' to build the walls of a dungeon and players joining the game remotely, each using their own castAR system to see the adventure in three dimensions.
CAD designers, the medical field, manufacturing, and education can all benefit from the data visualization possibilities. The most ambitious users could turn a room into a holodeck, without the solid light capabilities.
The glasses were already a big hit at 2013 MakerFaire. The Kickstarter video showcases some internet-famous folks talking about the benefits and possibilities for the virtual reality projection system, Bre Pettis leading the way.
This funding project is done very well, with slick advertising and a good deal of media coverage already in place. The project was funded within the first day and several different choices for equipment add-ons and options are available. Most reward levels include at least the pair of glasses, a magic wand to interact with the holographic objects, and the special screen where the objects will exist.