A pair of high-profile former Valve employees are looking to crowdfund development of glasses that will support both augmented and virtual reality.

Inspired by the chess game in Star Wars IV: A New Hope, Jeri Ellsworth and Rick Johnson have designed CastAR, a projected augmented reality system that displays holographic-like 3D projections.

A tracking system within the glasses allows users to hold the projected world in place and move around in it, while a CastAR Wand controller lets them position things in space and control them with a joystick, all with one hand.

An RFID Tracking Grid allows users to uniquely identify, track, and augment physical objects (such as miniatures, cards, and board game pieces), and the final version of the glasses are expected to weigh less than 100 grams – slightly heavier than a pair of sunglasses – and sit on the outside of prescription glasses.

The glasses get their video signal through an HDMI connection, and the camera is connected to a PC via a USB port. Options for mobile devices are also being explored.

According to the product’s Kickstarter, an attachment will transform CastAR into a true virtual reality system on top of its augmented reality abilities.

Ellsworth and Johnson are seeking US$400,000 (NZ$478,224) for hardware and software refinement, further miniaturisation of the glasses, and manufacturing.

The pair have so far raised US$168,728, with 31 days remaining.

A pledge of US$189 (NZ$225) or higher is required to get a pair of the completed glasses.