What Are Smart Glasses?
Smart glasses are wearable computer-capable eyewear that adds extra information to the user’s real-world scenes by overlaying digital content onto them.
They’re not to be confused with VR headsets that take over the whole vision and hearing experience to create a completely virtual world.
Instead, smart glasses use augmented reality and virtual reality technologies to overlay digital information on top of the user’s real-world environment. These glasses are relatively cheap and easy to use.
1. Augmented Reality
AR is a technology that allows people to see information in their field of view overlaid on the real world. It is similar to virtual reality and mixed reality. It involves generating 3D virtual simulations of real-world objects and overlaying them with digital content.
It can be displayed on screens, glasses, handheld devices, mobile phones, and head-mounted displays. It can also be used on virtual retinal displays (VRDs) that project the content directly on the user’s retina.
Augmented reality uses computer vision, object recognition, and visual data processing to add a layer of information to the user’s field of view. The layer can be digitally manipulated, based on a specific location or context.
For example, in an industrial setting, workers can use ar smart glasses to walk through a line of factory equipment and control it using a virtual interface. In this way, they can monitor performance and adjust it without physically touching the machines.
They can also use the device to check the product’s service history and diagnostics, which increases quality control and reduces work errors. They can also get alerts from IoT sensors that are embedded in the product, helping them to detect problems quickly and efficiently.
The technology can also be used to train employees for a variety of jobs. It can help them sharpen their technical skills, improve their communication abilities, and increase their confidence levels. It can even be used to simulate a workplace environment and provide a safer alternative to traditional training.
It is a growing trend and many businesses are investing in it to enhance their operations. It can help them to improve production efficiencies, optimize product development, and reduce the costs associated with building prototypes.
Companies can also use AR to enhance their customer experience. It can be used to display virtual products in a showroom and lead customers to the best products based on their preferences and needs. It can also be used to improve gaming experiences and promote products through advertising.
A number of AR vendors offer wearable AR solutions for a wide range of industries and applications. These solutions are based on AR software, hardware, and sensors that can be integrated into an organization’s existing workflow. The solutions are customizable, easy to use, and can help to enhance productivity and customer satisfaction.
2. Virtual Reality
AR smart glasses overlay virtual elements on top of the real world to enhance users’ experience. The technology is being explored by many technology companies, including Google, Microsoft and Apple.
The tech uses a pair of transparent lenses to display computer-generated ar smart glasses graphics and 3D holograms over the user’s view in order to create a virtual environment that is fully immersive. It also provides a sense of presence and authenticity through hand-gestures, voice commands and other natural motions.
While the technology is still in its early stages, it has already been incorporated into many applications, including medicine and military training. Combat pilots use virtual AR displays to see altitude, airspeed, horizon lines and other information to better navigate their aircraft. Similarly, ground troops can view virtual images of their environment to get a feel for the situation and identify potential targets.
These smart glasses are designed to look and feel like eyeglasses, and they are lightweight and wirelessly connect with smartphones. The devices also offer a «retina-level display» so that virtual objects are as clear as physical ones.
Aside from its ability to create a virtual environment, the technology is also capable of tracking head movements and rotation. The device can track up to six degrees of freedom, including a range of 360-degree views and omnidirectional tracking.
This makes it possible to move around a virtual world, and the technology also supports room-scale tracking so that the user can move in any direction or space. It can also be used for virtual meetings or other work-related activities, enabling a wide variety of business processes and tasks to be carried out more efficiently.
It is also a great tool for drone operators, as it allows them to control their drones with the help of a virtual bird’s-eye view. It has a high-resolution display and can run for up to 6 hours on a single charge.
It’s also possible to find VR modes for existing games that can add a new level of immersion, making them more appealing and engaging for many gamers. For instance, in first-person shooters, the ability to take on an avatar can make you feel more like a hero.
3. Voice Control
Smart glasses that support voice control are becoming more common as technology advances. This allows users to navigate their smartphones and other devices without a need for their phone in their pocket or on their wrists.
For instance, Vuzix smart glasses have a built-in microphone that can detect speech from a user. Using their Voice Development Kit (VDK), Vuzix has added embedded voice commands to the device that can be used for navigation or in applications from third parties.
Voice control on a smart glass is a great way to help the user focus on their work without distractions. While there are still some issues with this feature, it has the potential to make a major impact on productivity and efficiency.
One of the most popular uses for voice control is in call functionality. Many smart glasses are able to receive calls from other phones, as well as handle music playback and take video with audio.
There are also other use cases for voice control on AR glasses, such as navigating through apps and projecting virtual content. This can be useful for people who have a hard time using their hands to operate a smartphone or computer.
In the industrial sector, some companies are already making use of AR smart glasses for their processes in production and logistics. For example, DHL and Boeing are using this technology to improve their delivery processes.
This can also be a way for businesses to get expert knowledge to their employees on the go. In addition to the headsets, these solutions include an online platform where service technicians or experts can access live video and a database of digital content.
With these features, you can be sure that your employee will be able to follow the instructions and complete their tasks with ease. This can reduce labor costs and increase overall productivity.
The smart glasses can also be integrated with a barcode scanner, image and video recording, as well ar smart glasses as multi-conferencing. This makes them perfect for remote maintenance and training purposes.
The use of smart glasses can be beneficial for many other sectors as well, such as education, healthcare and manufacturing. In these areas, a HoloLens can help businesses increase productivity by 80% and decrease production times by 30%.
4. Bluetooth
Bluetooth can be used by ar smart glasses to connect with a variety of devices, including other ar smart glasses and smartphones. It also allows your glasses to send messages and notifications through your device.
If you want to pair your ar smart glasses with another device, just open the glasses’ temples and touch and hold them for four seconds. This will put the glasses into pairing mode and they will start to make noises that confirm it has been paired with your device.
You can also use Bluetooth to stream music or call your friends via your ar smart glasses. Amazon’s Alexa-enhanced glasses, for example, have an in-built bone conduction sound system that delivers high-quality audio to your ears without obstructing your vision.
Some ar smart glasses are equipped with a camera and can take photos and videos that you can share directly from the device. They also let you edit your photos and videos on a computer or tablet using the ar smart glasses’ touchpad.
A new report suggests that Apple is developing a pair of smart glasses that would wirelessly link with an iPhone and tell users information like the location of their current location or the number of steps they’ve taken. These glasses are still in development, but if they’re successful, it could give Apple another product that helps the company to kickstart sales and growth.
While many people aren’t excited about augmented reality, it’s clear that it can be used in many ways. As with virtual reality, AR can be useful for medical purposes, gaming, and more.
The biggest challenge for AR devices is battery life, though. Depending on the level of use, it can drain your glasses’ batteries within a few hours.
Qualcomm’s Smart Viewer, for example, has a 650mAh battery that lasts about 30 minutes on the most demanding of virtual overlays. That’s still a long way from the four-hour battery life you’d expect for a pair of glasses that support AR.
A better battery solution is likely to come from a lower-powered display system, or a companion battery pack that can be worn on the wearer’s belt or neck. This would reduce the weight of the glasses and extend their battery life to about 4 hours.