Smart Glasses With AR
Smart glasses with AR unlock new potentials in education, retail, tourism and beyond. But for wearers and nonwearers alike, the technology introduces concerns around privacy and power dynamics.
These light frames from Nreal take a simplified approach, forgoing cameras that could invade others’ privacy and instead displaying virtual semi-transparent screens in front of the eyes. They can also act as a USB-C external monitor when connected to your phone.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) uses smart glasses to overlay digital information over the environment. This can include a heads-up display of notifications, smart glasses with ar a videoconferencing experience, or a 3D model of a machine being worked on. Advanced AR software can scan the physical world in real time, allowing users to interact with it and visualize complex processes.
For business purposes, augmented reality can improve productivity and product quality. It can help resolve operational issues by reducing production downtime and optimizing manufacturing processes. Incorporating AR into the design phase can also accelerate product development and reduce costs by eliminating the need for expensive prototyping.
When shopping for a pair of smart glasses with augmented reality, look for features that will benefit your specific business needs. These may include clear AR annotations, file transfer capabilities, CRM integration, media display, and robust security protocols.
Other features to consider are the screen resolution and audio quality. A higher screen resolution will offer crisper text and better image clarity. Look for open-ear speakers rather than closed, noise-cancelling headphones to ensure you can hear what’s being said around you without blocking out the outside world.
The Xreal Air smart glasses have an interesting approach to AR, connecting directly to smartphones for processing and other functions. This allows them to be lighter and less restrictive than other models that house all the necessary hardware within the glasses. The ThinkReality A3 is another option that tethers to Lenovo laptops and Motorola mobile phones. This helps keep the weight low and ensures that the system has the computing power needed for immersive AR experiences.
Virtual Reality
Smart glasses with AR take advantage of sensors like cameras, depth sensors, and accelerometers to anchor computer-generated content in the real world. This allows for an immersive experience without the discomfort and awkwardness of a headset.
This technology is also used in healthcare and the workplace to boost productivity and enhance training programs. For example, an experienced field service technician can remotely watch their team work through the glasses to deliver necessary schematics and interject when there are questions or uncertainty.
The newest model of the Google Glass Enterprise 2 is a great choice for professionals seeking to streamline tasks in their daily workflows. The dual 1080p displays provide exceptional clarity, while the haptic feedback and noise-canceling microphones allow you to communicate hands-free. The device tethers to laptops or smartphones through the Snapdragon Spaces app, which allows you to access multimedia content and use your favorite apps from anywhere.
The Spectacles AR from Snap is another popular option for social media users who want to be able to record videos and post them right away. These lightweight wireless glasses offer a sleek, minimalist design that is comfortable to wear and feature a battery life up to eight hours. The HD front camera can capture video and pictures and you can choose from a variety of visor tints to optimize your view. Sound isolation is limited, however, so you’ll still hear your surroundings for safety and the audio quality can suffer if you wear them outdoors or while running.
Heads-Up Displays
One of the most exciting innovations in smart glasses is heads-up displays. These show notifications, RSS feeds, emails, and other information in front of your eyes without requiring you to look at your hands or touch your phone. Some models, such as the Xreal Air and the Rokid Max AR headset, are wireless and run on an independent battery; others, like the Echo Frames, require a smartphone connection.
Some models use a camera to identify pre-loaded markers in the real world. These allow the system to overlay digital 3D images and holograms on top of the user’s view. They can also use GPS, SLAM (algorithm-based simultaneous localization and mapping technology that gets data from sensors) or other methods to determine the user’s position and orientation.
Other devices, such as the Magic Leap 2 mixed reality headset, combine depth cameras and a range of other sensors to create virtual overlays extended reality solutions on your environment. These can be useful for work, such as creating visualizations of complex systems and processes. Or they can boost entertainment, such as by adding characters and scenery into video games or augmented-reality experiences.
For our latest recommendations, we consulted with technology analysts and professionals, as well as many wearables users. Jon Martindale, our contributor for these articles, looked for smart glasses that were comfortable and easy to use while doing a variety of tasks. He considered battery life, features such as voice control and the ability to connect to multiple devices and applications, and compatibility with various software.
Voice Control
While a pair of smart glasses can be worn independently, they’re usually far more useful when connected to a smartphone of some kind. Look for a model with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity to allow you to interact with your device and download apps and content. A microphone helps with cellphone conversations and hands-free voice searches, while a prism and projector create digital displays that overlay your field of view without obscuring real-world objects.
A camera on some models lets you capture pictures or video with a tap, while others feature hand-free controls that let you record and snap with just a verbal command. For example, a headset from maker Vuzix lets you say “Hey, Google,” to launch the search app and then adds features like location sharing for photos, which automatically appear on friends’ social feeds.
In the workplace, smart glasses can help with tasks ranging from training new employees to using digital work instructions for repairs in remote locations. The ability to communicate with colleagues over video is key in business settings, and a virtual whiteboard lets you point at real-world objects for collaboration. Some AR-equipped glasses are also designed to boost customer experiences in stores with comparison shopping and extensive product information. They can also enable gamification effects for customers and boost productivity in field service by enabling on-site workers to get step-by-step visuals for fixing problems.
