The era of smart glasses is coming
After smart watches and smart rings, the new wearable technology is smart glasses. Several manufacturers have showcased various types of smart glasses at this year's CES. Technology analysts believe that smart glasses are going to enter the mainstream this year.
What could these devices be like?
For more than a decade and a half, various companies have been trying to incorporate various technologies into glasses. Despite bringing several models, tech giants like Google and Microsoft have not been able to popularize smart glasses. These devices also had limitations - weak processors, poor displays and short battery life. With time, revolutionary changes have occurred in technology, so manufacturers have become interested in making smart glasses again.
Smart glasses are a new type of product for the general public. Therefore, there are big differences among manufacturers on what kind of features they should have. Some brands are working on making 'vlogging' smart glasses with cameras, while other manufacturers are bringing glasses with high-quality displays to the market. Currently, various companies are working on making at least three types of smart glasses.
Fashionable Smart Glasses
Some manufacturers are trying to create smart glasses with eye-catching designs, without installing additional technology in the glasses. They claim that 'smart' does not mean internet connection or AI in the device. These smart glasses look like ordinary glasses, and people around them will not be able to quickly understand whether they have any special features or not.
The smart glasses made by Camelo look like fashionable glasses
However, the color of the lenses on its frame will change with a touch of a finger. The lenses of electrochromatic technology contain liquid crystals. Their color changes when a small amount of electricity is passed. Users will be able to control how transparent or tinted Camelo's sunglasses will be. The color of the lenses of glasses made for everyday use can also be controlled in the same way.
Essilor-Luxotica has created smart glasses that can also be used as a hearing aid. The device has been named 'Nuance Audio'. The small speaker in the body of the glasses will work as a medical-grade hearing aid. It is also capable of noise cancellation.
The goal of these two devices is to make fashion-conscious people enthusiastic about wearing smart glasses. Because to be commercially successful, smart glasses do not have to be popular only among technology enthusiasts.
Camera-equipped glasses
Ray-Ban and Meta have jointly developed the 'Meta Wayfarer'. The smart glasses have been on the market for quite some time, and their popularity is gradually increasing. They include speakers, microphones, and cameras. Users can capture the scene around them with voice commands, as well as ask Meta AI questions to find out various information. The devices look a lot like ordinary glasses, but the camera built into its frame is easily understood. And that's where all the trouble begins. Many have already accused these smart glasses of a clear violation of privacy. Several organizations have already banned the use of smart glasses. Snapchat also introduced camera glasses, but they quickly dropped that project in the face of criticism.
Monitored glasses
The manufacturer Xreal has turned smart glasses into wearable monitors by installing a high-resolution display. The smart glasses can be connected to a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone and used as a wide monitor. These devices are more popular among those who travel a lot. Although they look a lot like sunglasses, you cannot see anything around you while wearing them. As a result, it is almost impossible to move around while wearing these smart glasses from Xreal.
The manufacturer VujiX has created smart glasses by installing a display inside transparent glass. Their Z100 model looks like thick sunglasses, with a display inside it. By connecting it wirelessly to a smartphone, various information from the phone can be viewed on the device. Such smart glasses can be used in various workplaces, such as construction or delivery. However, VujiX is currently focusing more on creating transparent display technology.
AI in smart glasses
Halliday and Shargi—both manufacturers are trying to provide computing and AI technology in smart glasses. Both companies' devices have displays embedded in transparent lenses. The displays, made using waveguide technology, blend into the frame and glass of the glasses, rather than using a separate projector system like Google Glass. The smart glasses made by these two manufacturers have the feature of capturing images through a camera and talking to a chatbot about it. However, they are not immediately popular among users because they look like large welding goggles. The battery used in some models of such smart glasses is separate from the frame of the glasses, and it has to be connected to the glasses via a long cable. Analysts believe that such smart glasses are unlikely to be popular in the future.
How smart glasses can become popular
Smartwatches or smartphones did not gain popularity only because of their features. The general public has started using these devices due to their attractive design and ease of use. The same will happen with smart glasses. Smart glasses with cameras will probably not be that popular. Smart glasses with speakers and transparent displays will quickly win the hearts of users. The biggest obstacle in this case is the battery capacity. Charging the glasses every night is not acceptable at all, experts say. Glasses with electrochromatic glass like Camelo may attract users initially. However, it is not possible to say right now which features will be popular in the future. There is no doubt that the era of smart glasses is coming, it may start this year.