When it comes to wearable technology eyewear, there is much more than Google Glass on the market. In fact, the market is alive with activity from the expected players – Sony, Apple, Samsung – and many newcomers.
ABI Research predicts that within 2014, there will be about 90 million wearable tech. devices – including watches, rings, clothing, and eyewear – sold and demand will be higher in 2015. Many of the gadgets are related to health and fitness, but may also target the fields of aging, disabilities, education, enterprise, gaming and music, not to mention military uses.
Smart Glass Offerings at a Glance
So today we will take a look at some of the hottest and most innovative smart glass technologies either out or under development. So let us dive in and take a look at:
- Epson’s Moverio BT-200 (Part 1)
- Google Glass (Part 1)
- Lumus DK40 (Part 1)
- Medical Use-Only (Part 1)
- Metapro (Part 2)
- Oculus Rift (Part 2)
- Recon Jet (Part 2)
- Sony’s Project Morpheus (Part 2)
Epson Moverio BT-200
The Epson Moverio BT-200 boasts a 60% lighter and smaller glass than their original edition. It is a smart glass built to revolutionize gaming, video and more. It is very similar to the Google Glass. Epson, like Google, also invites users to participate in a Developer Program to develop app ideas into reality. The BT-200 features a prescription lens insert, dual screen for 3-D display, and a larger display centered in the user’s field of view.
Number of Apps:
- Still in development stage
Date Available:
- Available for pre-order now with delivery expected in late 2014.
Devise Connection Requirement:
- The device links to an Android 4.0 OS device with textured touchpad and additional motion sensors.
Cost:
- Available for pre-order at $699
Google Glass
Designed for mass-market use. Glass is the brain child of Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, Inc., whose vision was to create a piece of technology that did everything a cell phone or computer could do, but would free the user’s body to engage more fully in the world. Users interact with “Glass” verbally via voice commands or via head and face movements; such as a wink or a nod. Glass is quickly becoming the standard by which many other smart glasses are put to test.
Number of Apps:
- 70+ and growing
Date Available:
- Currently available to Explorer Program members.
Device Connection Requirement:
- Android or iOS smart phone, via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Cost:
- $1,500
Lumus DK40
With a definite focus on the optics, not the glass, the Lumus DK40 is a prototype of a personal head-up display, or HUD – similar to those used in luxury cars and military equipment. Perhaps the most important feature of the Lumus DK40 is its embedded prisms found within the coating on the glass. Originally this appears striped, but when you wear them your eyes bring them together to form a cohesive image. The response from the people who have used them is that the resulting image is much clearer than other smart glasses. Lumus is an Israeli-based company with a 13- year presence in optical technology.
Number of Apps:
- Still in development stage
Date Available:
- No set release date.
Devise Connection Requirement:
- The device is self-powered by a built-in Android system.
Cost:
- “A few hundred dollars,” according to Lumus’ website
Medical Use-Only
In the medical field, a team of researchers from Washington University developed a smart glass specifically for doctors to accurately identify cancerous tissues during surgery. Using custom software and molecular imaging, the glasses make the cancer cells glow blue, making them visually distinctive from healthy cells. Talk about smart glasses! This glass is still being developed with the hope of it being used commonly among oncology surgeons.
Number of Apps:
- N/A
Date Available:
- Prototype currently being refined.
Devise Connection Requirement:
- N/A
Cost:
- Available only to oncologic medical professionals.
Join Us Next Time
We have seen some very interesting smart glass offerings; from Android versions similar to Google Glass, to a Medical Device enabling doctors to easily spot cancerous cells. But wait, there is more! Join us next time when we take a closer look at the Metapro, Oculus Rift, Recon Jet, Sony’s Project Morpheus, and draw some conclusions on the smart glass market space.
Sources
- Ante, S. (Presenter). (2012, September 10) WSJ Live. “Google’s Sergey Brin Preview New ‘Google Glass.’” [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://live.wsj.com/video/google-sergey-brin-previews-new-google-glass/FCB1CF6F-98B3-4E0F-9534-23EE5CEAC8C6.html#!FCB1CF6F-98B3-4E0F-9534-23EE5CEAC8C6
- CNet Editor’s Take. (January 7, 2014). Lumus DK40 smartglasses are your personal HUD (hands-on). Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/products/lumus-dk40/
- CNet Editor’s Take. (March 18, 2014). Sony announces Project Morpheus VR headset (hands-on). Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/products/sony-project-morpheus/
- CNet Editor’s Take. (March 21, 2014). Oculus Rift DK2 dev kit offers VR for $350 (hands-on). Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/products/oculus-rift/
- Epson. (2000-2014). Moverio BT-200 product website. Retrieved from http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Landing/moverio-bt-200-smart-glasses.do?ref=van_moverio_2014
- Evangelho, Jason. (January 10, 2014). Rumor: Oculus Rift Will Launch Summer 2014 For Less Than $499. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2014/01/10/rumor-oculus-rift-will-launch-summer-2014-for-less-than-499/
- Koetsler, John, & Takahashi, Dean. (September 26, 2013). Google Glass competitor ships 50K devices, takes Intel investment, hints at Apple connection. Retrieved from http://venturebeat.com/2013/09/26/google-glass-competitor-recon-jet-ships-50k-units-gets-intel-investment-and-hints-at-apple-connection/
- Lumus company website. (Unknown). Product FAQs. Retrieved from http://www.lumus-optical.com/index.php?option=com_easyfaq&Itemid=17#faq19
- McGlaun, Shane. (February 12, 2014). High tech smart glasses that help doctors see cancer cells developed by researchers. Retrieved from http://www.slashgear.com/high-tech-smart-glasses-that-help-doctors-see-cancer-cells-developed-by-researchers-12316621/
- Meta. (2013). Corporate Web Site. Retrieved from https://www.spaceglasses.com/
- Mullins, J. (2013, December 18). E Online. “Google Glass Users Can Now Wink to Take Photos, Which Sounds Quite Creepy.” Retrieved from http://www.eonline.com/news/492087/google-glass-users-can-now-wink-to-take-photos-which-sounds-quite-creepy
- Rift (Unknown). The Rift List: the list of all games for the Oculus Rift. Retrieved from http://theriftlist.com/
- Stein, Scott. (January 23, 2014). CES 2014: Epson’s Moverio BT-200 Smart Glasses deliver Android apps in augmented reality. Video. Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/videos/epsons-moverio-bt-200-smart-glasses-deliver-android-apps-in-augmented-reality/
- Stein, Scott. (March 21, 2014). Oculus Rift DK2 dev kit offers VR for $350 (hands-on). Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/products/oculus-rift/
- Tehrani, Kiana, and Andrew Michael. (March 26,2014).Wearable Technology and Wearable Devices: Everything You Need to Know. Wearable Devices Magazine, WearableDevices.com, March 2014. Web.
- Young, Elisabeth. (February 6, 2014). 90 million wearable will be sold this 2014, analyst says. Retrieved from http://www.technologytell.com/gadgets/138712/90-million-wearables-will-be-sold-this-2014-analyst-says/