24

Apr
2014

Part 2: Wearable Technology – Smart Glass

In our last article, we learned that the lines between wearable tech from the movies and everyday life are blurring with more smart glass offerings becoming available.  In our previous articles we looked at:Professor_SmartGlasses

  • Epson’s Moverio BT-200
  • Google Glass
  • Lumus DK40
  • Medical Use-Only device enabling doctors to easily spot cancerous cells

Smart Glass Offerings at a Glance (Continued)

Let us dive right in and take a closer look at the Metapro, Oculus Rift, Recon Jet, Sony’s Project Morpheus, and draw some conclusions on the future of the smart glass market space.

Metapro

For overall “wow” factor, Meta, LLC, a California startup, is “busy creating the best augmented reality glasses in the world,” as their website states.  The Metapro boasts a 40 degree field of view for the use of both eyes, over the 14 degree field of view for the use of only one eye of Glass. This gives users a wider field of view for an immersive augmented reality experience.

Number of Apps:

  • Over 500 augmented reality apps exist.

Date Available:

  • Available now for an expected delivery in September.

Devise Connection Requirement:

  • The device connects to, and is powered by, an “ultra high power pocket computer” rather than a common smart phone.

Cost:

  • The cost is equally impressive at $3,650.
  • A low-end, not very glamorous-looking version is also available for under $700.

Oculus Rift

The Oculus Rift is the talk of the serious gaming crowd.  But it is, truly, for gaming only. Users of the Oculus Rift are totally immersed into the experience by glasses that completely wrap around the user’s head and field of vision.

Number of Apps:

  • Over 120 apps exist.

Date Available:

  • Developer’s kit available for purchase now; delivery in July.
  • Available to the public in Summer 2014.

Devise Connection Requirement:

  • The device connects to an external tracking camera, handheld controller, via 3.0 USB port.

Cost:

  • Currently $350 for developers only.
  • Less than $499 for the public, in Summer 2014.

Recon Jet

Designed for the serious athletes who are interested in taking their performance to a higher level, the ReconJet provides these athletes the real time data to help them achieve success during the most grueling of rides or outdoor activities. The pilot version is focused on supporting “endurance athletes: cyclists, triathletes, and runners.” Providing them their real-time performance metrics (such as speed, pace, distance, duration, gradient, heart rate, power meter, and cadence) and by connecting their smartphone, they can see texts and caller ID of incoming calls.

Number of Apps: 

  • Open to development across multiple fields including athletics, engineers, firefighters, builders, doctors.

Date Available: 

  • Now

Device Connection Requirement:

  • Self-powered: dual-core 1GHz processor, a graphics chip, Wi-Fi, built-in ANT+ for device communications, Bluetooth, GPS, a HD camera, and a raft of sensors.
  • Connects to Android and iPhone Apps.

Cost:

  • $599

 Sony’s Project Morpheus

Last but certainly not least, in March 2014, Sony unveiled their PlayStation 4 virtual reality device, Project Morpheus, at the Game Developers Conference panel in San Francisco.

Number of Apps:

  • PS4 only.

Date Available:

  • Not announced.

Device Connection Requirement:

  • The device connects to PlayStation 4 via USB port.

Cost:

  • Not announced.

 A Look Ahead

It is clear that smart glasses and wearable technology is becoming the wave of the present and the future. This growing trend reminds me of James Bond’s many watches and so many past and present sci-fi movies featuring wearable high tech gadgets. While competition grows in the wearable tech device space, it is clear that besides becoming more stylish, these devices are also becoming more powerful. Users are expecting and demanding powerful smart glasses to meet their everyday needs and specific gaming, professional, or athletic needs.  Will we reach the point of “one size fits all” glass types? It is very hard to say.  I speculate that the smart glass market will be driven by the usual factors:  price point, functionality, customer demand, and faster and smaller technology.

 

Sources

  1. 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
  2. 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/
  3. 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/
  4. 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/
  5. 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
  6. 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/
  7. 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/
  8. Lumus company website. (Unknown). Product FAQs. Retrieved from  http://www.lumus-optical.com/index.php?option=com_easyfaq&Itemid=17#faq19
  9. 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/
  10. Meta. (2013). Corporate Web Site. Retrieved from https://www.spaceglasses.com/
  11. 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
  12. Rift (Unknown). The Rift List: the list of all games for the Oculus Rift. Retrieved from http://theriftlist.com/
  13. 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/
  14. 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/
  15. 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.
  16. Young, Elisabeth. (February 6, 2014). 90 million wearables 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/

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