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Consumer Technology

Smart Glasses Going to be Cool One Day

The next big thing in wearables will be on your face - if they can make it sexy

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So many smart glasses, so little time.

If there is one type of product that stood out at AWE 2017 (Augmented World Expo), which bills itself as the largest augmented/virtual reality show in the world, it was smart glasses. It seemed as if every other vendor had a version.

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Was this the year of the smart glasses? Even the show graphics shows smart glasses.

The more you see them – and through them – the more sense smart glasses make. They are lightweight and small when compared to other AR (like the HoloLens) and VR headsets (that look more like diving helmets). Smart glasses have a shot at actually looking cool. And with cool comes a desire to own and an immediate cultural desire that will spill on the scene and the let loose all the benefits of AR, the awesome potential of being able to explain what is in view, to enhance your sight, to see pertinent data about an object without having to look away from it…

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Epson’s Movario BT-350 Smart Glasses ($1,399). Epson makes a version  (BT-300FPV, $799) that is made for drone operators.

Solos “performance wearables” and their smart sunglasses for cyclists beams stats like speed, cadence, distance time right in your field of view.
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DAQRI bills themselves as the leader in AR headsets for industrial use. Their smart glasses can pass as oversized shades. DAQRI had a big display with their technology like the Smart Helmet and smart glasses.

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Author peers into the future, this time with Vuzix M300 Smart Glasses. Vuzix makes a line of AR products and seems to also be geared towards industrial use.
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Intel’s Naz Tavakoli models the Recon Jet Pro for a “connected workforce.” Recon also makes a sport model for runners and cyclists.


Italy’s Univet uses Sony’s waveguide display on this AR headset.

Italy’s Univet uses Sony’s waveguide display on this AR headset.


Korea’s Raontech makes a ultra small high resolution display for AR headsets can incorporate.

Korea’s Raontech makes a ultra small high resolution display for AR headsets can incorporate.
Vufine+ mounts on the arm of regular glasses to provide a 960x540 display near your eye for only $199.

Vufine+ mounts on the arm of regular glasses to provide a 960×540 display near your eye for only $199.