Apple bought a company that hints it's exploring a new form of computing

metaio augmented reality

(YouTube) A demo of Metaio's augmented reality tech running in an iPad app.

Apple bought a company called Metaio that makes augmented-reality technologies, according to TechCrunch.

Augmented reality, or AR, is the concept that allows developers to overlay digital information on top of the real world. Many companies are working on AR including Microsoft with its HoloLens project and Google through its major investment in the secretive startup Magic Leap. AR and virtual reality (VR) are two key areas many bet will be the next major computing platform after mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

Metaio licensed its AR technology to several companies, and TechCrunch reports several of them were frustrated when Metaio suddenly went dark.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Here's a video TechCrunch found that shows how Metaio's AR technology works:

More From Business Insider

• 8 things the new Pebble smartwatch can do that the Apple Watch can't do
  

• What Apple has learned from ResearchKit so far
  

• Apple's biggest event of the year begins June 8