【China Startup】The next Apple? HiScene's ambitions 下一个可穿戴时代的苹果？

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As virtual reality (VR) takes lead in technology business in China, some companies have gone a step further: Welcome to the world of augmented reality (AR). 

Industry leaders, who experienced the cultivation of academic research under the nation’s strict education environment, are gradually stepping out of the world of academic lab. And Dr. Liao Chunyuan is among the breed of entrepreneurs who are foraying into the future. 

Preparing to launch the new HiAR Glasses, benchmarking Microsoft’s Hololens, Liao is one of the tech geeks with 20 years of research experience in human-computer interaction and has high ambitions to make his company, HiScene, the next Apple in the field of wearable technology. 

Liao talked to CCTVNEWS at the HiScene HQ in Shanghai about his understanding of AR and the techniques his team has developed since 2012. 

Q1. Why was 2012 the right time for your team to venture into AR? 

A: I’ve been involved in the human-computer interaction industry since 1996. But it wasn’t between 2011 and 2012 that the artificial intelligence algorithm started emerging for practical applications. Smart devices and cloud computing also started to flourish, which meant a lot of technology was ready be exported from the lab to people’s lives. (These days) everyone has a smart device in their pockets and that brings huge potentials for business. 

Both my partners and I have gained solid resources – academically and in terms of networking in China before leaving for further education aboard. Apart from that, talking about mobile Internet, China is for sure the biggest market right now with the government supporting this sector. 

All these factors created perfect timing for us. We invested our own money and started our business plan. 

Q2. What were you doing before that? 

A: I was leading a research team in Silicon Valley that was developing AR in mobile devices. My friends didn’t approve of my decision to go back to create a startup. They said it is too risky to give up my 10-year career in the US. I was fully aware that it would mean a lot to leave my life in the US and go back (to China), but had I postponed my journey, I would have lost many opportunities –that was the real risk.  So, in 2012, I returned to China with my family. 

(Liao Chunyuan and his son)

Q3. How have your previous experiences as a tech-savvy person influenced the approach you are setting for HiScene?  

I have been practicing this idea of transforming concept from texts to reality since 1990s, when the first batch of Internet company were starting in west Beijing’s Zhongguancun and Tsinghua tech park. I was participating in developing websites and Java procedures. 

Before I went abroad, I developed board games for Lenovo, and achieved over tens of millions of installations. I also programmed a mahjong game for my parents for their pastime while they visited me in the US. The sense of accomplishment from creating a product can surpass the feeling of finishing a book. Now, our company is trying to shift roles from a tech server to an independent AR brand, which has always been the direction since early stage of my career. 

Q4. What is HiScene’s goal in one sentence? 

A: To give everyone the opportunity to experience the world through a glass, as smart as contact lens, using our AR technology in the future – that’s the scenario we are looking for. 

Q5. Why choose Augmented Reality as the target area? 

A: The essence of AR is the inevitable trend of human-computer interaction. The half-real half-virtual traits provide more space for users to experience without feeling dizzy. The current devices using VR is actually a transition, which can later be used to realize the potentials of AR. We need to take initiatives. 

Q6. What are the differences between Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality? 

A: VR devices create a pure virtual world that has no connection with the real world, while AR devices provide a virtual world that is parallel to the real word. VR is a part of AR and it will be incorporated into AR in the end. 

Q7. From your point of view, where is AR in the current market?

A: We are in the age of transition between the iteration of software and hardware. AR has worked well in children’s education field, but it needs another five to 10 years to get solid artificial intelligence structure for it to become a part of everyone’s life. 

Q8: How much has you achieved since you started the company in 2012?

A: Our HiAir Software Development Kit has gained over 100 million users and we are developing the second generation of HiAir Glasses using the latest Qualcomm chip. 

往期回顾：

Preview:

On July 9, we will cover the “WILL” conference for future technology exploration. Major startup entrepreneurs are expected to attend the one-day event. There will also be a question and answer session during the conference. 
Post your questions below if you are interested in joining the discussion!