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| | | Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 1/26/2012 11:25:39 AM
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| I have been following augmented reality glasses for a number of years and while I've been impressed by the concept of what they can be, and that some models actually did go on to display good images they always had what I call a dork factor LOL. I think this dork factor mostly persisted because none of them were even remotely good looking on a purely esthetic basis. Then I saw some quick blurb on tv about ces 2012 and they were rattling off a number of things from ces one of the last ones being about the smart glasses. I was strait WOW when i saw them. I can't find much info on the consumer smart glasses so i joined this forum just to ask the developers a few questions. Is the consumer model going to display only holographic images such as the display at ces or will it be able to play media from my iPod with full deep colors and high resolution? I understand this technology is a constant work in progress so im sure these glasses will improve over the next few years and that may be where the technology is ultimately headed.
I'd love to see this tech progress from having the illussion if a large screen to having the entire lens being used as a display giving the user a 100% submersive field of view. It would also be great if they had on board power source and Bluetooth 4.0 so the cable can be completely eliminated. Anyway i think i may finally take the plunge and buy my first set of AR glasses when these are released in 2013.
On a side note I had to look over this company again and at .06 a share and a 17 million market cap i really feel it could be highly under valued, especially when i saw the leap forward AR took when you announced the smart glasses would range from $350-600. Something tells me AR glasses are going to go main stream within a couple years, as soon as a couple celebrities pick up on these. A little more tweaking on these glasses and im sure you'll be getting a call from a party with super deep pockets interested in buying your AR patents and marketing them under their own brand......iSHADES anyone? |
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Today @ 9:17:55 AM
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| Yes, the "geek factor" is gone.
I am glad that people are taking notice of the new SMART Glasses Technology using our wave guide optics is a game changer for this industry. At last we'll be able to deliver HD eyewear that is virtually indistinguishable from traditional sunglasses. There is a reasonable change that we won't get 100% of this look in the first model run of the new binocular displays but the technology is at last at hand to make it happen.
I also made a posting earlier today on the CES announcements and I included a link to download a brochure: Vuzix Announces SMART Glasses at CES 2012
The new system will display 2D or 3D video of virtually any type (text, video, or other still or motion graphics) similar to that shown in our displays, only better. The ones we showed at CES were all see-thru systems but by simply placing an opaque lens cover behind the displays you get basically the same visual effect as today's standard high definition displays. The greatest interest is in see-thru for augmented reality or heads-up type of displays. Connectivity to a variety of devices and interfaces has always been a strong feature of Vuzix eyewear and I would expect that to carry forward including the addition of HDMI, which was also announced at CES. iPhone, Android, PCs and more will all be supported in 720p.
Everyone is always asking for wireless and solutions are available for wireless audio and video. Unfortunately what many fail to consider is the requirement for power to drive the displays. Unless you want the weight of batteries on your eyewear, a cable of some sort, going to a power source, may be with us for awhile.
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Last Login: 1/26/2012 11:25:39 AM
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| I totally understand that the current technology requires a cable "mostly for power supply" but as the tech progresses and the displays consume less and less power as efficientcy increases meanwhile battery technology is increasing their life it could one day be a possibility. Just glad to know that your company is aware that is the direction the common consumer would like to see the tech progress. So it seems the current generation that is being developed with only provide see though AR and require an opaque lens to block out the real world but is there any progress being made on outer lenses that have the ability of changing their opaqueness so you don't have to carry around extra lenses?
What would be your best guess as to which size the battery would need to be to power the headset for say 6-8 hours of usage? Anyway to fill the frame of the glasses with lithium ion? Do you think 400-500mAh would be enough? That would add a bit of weight to the glasses but i don't think it would even be noticeable to the user when they actually have them on.
Either way awesome tech and i can't wait to get a set of these |
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Today @ 9:17:55 AM
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| So it seems the current generation that is being developed with only provide see though AR and require an opaque lens to block out the real world but is there any progress being made on outer lenses that have the ability of changing their opaqueness so you don't have to carry around extra lenses?
This new technology can be applied to both opaque and transparent displays. Most of the interest is in transparent displays however as it is more difficult to active and has a broader range of applications previously unserviced.
There are technologies available for adjusting opacity (lens shade) electronically. I cannot say if this is practical or if it can be incorporated into this type of product however.
What would be your best guess as to which size the battery would need to be to power the headset for say 6-8 hours of usage? Anyway to fill the frame of the glasses with lithium ion? Do you think 400-500mAh would be enough? That would add a bit of weight to the glasses but i don't think it would even be noticeable to the user when they actually have them on.
It is far to early to speculate on weight or battery life. Any number provided at this time would be nothing more than a wish. Weight, even a seemingly small amount, is very important. At less than 3oz. we still hear customers commenting they are too heavy. For those having gone through life wearing eyeglasses, the weight is not as noticeable but those unaccustomed to spectacles find even the lightest eyewear to be noticeable.
It is true that a totally wireless solution is ideal. |
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| Are there any more demo videos other then the ones you had on display at ces? Like maybe videos of actual apps that they can operate with off a smartphone like say navigation, web, etc.
I'm not able to find very much hands on experience with these glasses on the web, do you plan on getting a few sets of these out there to bring awareness to them from the consumer market? Once these hit the hands of a few athletes and such they will tweet there fingers off about how cool they are and sell them for you in droves. Worked for Dr. Dre and the Beats head sets lol. |
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Today @ 9:17:55 AM
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| One of the challenges with AR on mobiles is that very few provide for video-in and using the camera on the phone produces a parallax with the camera offset from the user's viewing perspective. As mobile phones start to enable video in and alternate video-in method are developed this issue will diminish.
The result in, there are very few examples of 1st-person AR on mobiles today. |
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