After a breakthrough 2017, the race for augmented reality headset heats up in Silicon Valley

Attendees demo the augmented reality integration of the new Google Pixel 2 smartphone using the demigorgon from Netflix's Stranger Things series at a product launch event, October 4, 2017, at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco, California. Google on Wednesday unveiled newly designed versions of its Pixel smartphone, the highlight of a refreshed line of devices which are part of the tech giant's efforts to boost its presence against hardware rivals. The new Pixel 2 and larger Pixel 2 XL are the first Google-made devices since the California tech giant announced the acquisition of key segments of Taiwan-based electronics group HTC / AFP PHOTO / Elijah Nouvelage

Augmented reality is roaring back to prominence as one of Silicon Valley's favourite frontier technologies, nearly three years after Google's brief, unsuccessful run at the market with its infamous smart glasses. 

When criticism of the Google Glass over privacy and safety concerns led some bars and restaurants to ban the then-US$1,500 (RM6,027) smart glasses, the future of mixing artificial graphics with real-life viewing seemed more like a pipe dream than science-fiction-turned-reality.