Smartglasses

This article is about wearable computing. For window glass with variable opacity, see smart glass. For the Xbox control application, see Xbox SmartGlass.
Using the touch pad built on the side of the 2013 Google Glass to communicate with the user's phone using Bluetooth.
Man wearing a 1998 EyeTap, Digital Eye Glass.[1]

Smartglasses or smart glasses are eye or head-worn wearable computers. Many smartglasses include displays that add information alongside or to what the wearer sees.[1][2][3] Alternatively, smartglasses are sometimes defined as glasses that are able to change their optical properties, such as smart sunglasses that are programmed to change tint by electronic means.[4] Alternatively, smartglasses are sometimes defined as glasses that include headphone functionality.

A pair of smartglasses can be considered an augmented reality device if it performs pose tracking.

Superimposing information onto a field of view is achieved through an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) or embedded wireless glasses with transparent heads-up display (HUD) or augmented reality (AR) overlay. These systems have the capability to reflect projected digital images as well as allowing the user to see through it or see better with it. While early models can perform basic tasks, such as serving as a front end display for a remote system, as in the case of smartglasses utilizing cellular technology or Wi-Fi, modern smart glasses are effectively wearable computers which can run self-contained mobile apps. Some are handsfree and can communicate with the Internet via natural language voice commands, while others use touch buttons.[5][6][7][8][9]

Like other computers, smartglasses may collect information from internal or external sensors. It may control or retrieve data from other instruments or computers. In most cases, it supports wireless technologies like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS. A small number of models run a mobile operating system and function as portable media players to send audio and video files to the user via a Bluetooth or WiFi headset.[10][11] Some smartglasses models also feature full lifelogging and activity tracker capability.[12][13][14][15]

Smartglasses devices may also have features found on a smartphone.[16][17] Some have activity tracker functionality features (also known as "fitness tracker") as seen in some GPS watches.[18][19]

  1. ^ a b IEEE Spectrum, "Vision 2.0" IEEE Spectrum, Volume 50, Issue 3, Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/MSPEC.2013.6471058, pp42-47
  2. ^ Wearable Computing: A First Step Toward Personal Imaging, IEEE Computer, Vol. 30, Iss. 2 Feb. 1997, pp. 25–32,
  3. ^ "Quantigraphic camera promises HDR eyesight from Father of AR", Chris Davies, Slashgear, 12 September 2012
  4. ^ "Smart eyewear - LC-Tec". LC-Tec (in Swedish). Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  5. ^ Goldman, David (4 April 2012). "Google unveils 'Project Glass' virtual-reality glasses". Money. CNN. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  6. ^ Albanesius, Chloe (4 April 2012). "Google 'Project Glass' Replaces the Smartphone With Glasses". PC Magazine. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  7. ^ Newman, Jared (4 April 2012). "Google's 'Project Glass' Teases Augmented Reality Glasses". PC World. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  8. ^ Bilton, Nick (23 February 2012). "Behind the Google Goggles, Virtual Reality". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  9. ^ These Are Google Glass's CPU and RAM Specs | Gizmodo UK 26 April 2013 – 7:30pm
  10. ^ "Smart glasses: The first wave of wearable and connected devices integrating Imagination IP". Imagination Blog. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  11. ^ "Epson announces second-gen Moverio smart glasses". 8 January 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  12. ^ Andy Bowen (5 December 2013). "Lumus reveals classy two-tone Glass competitor with in-lens display". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  13. ^ Alexis Santos (10 January 2014). "Lumus turns its military-grade eyewear into a Google Glass competitor (video)". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  14. ^ Sean Cooper (11 January 2012). "Lumus see-through wearable display hands-on". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  15. ^ Jessica Dolcourt (13 January 2014). "Pivothead Smart Colfax Preview – CNET". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  16. ^ Samantha Murphy Kelly (19 December 2013). "Smart Glasses Reveal What It's Like to Have Superpowers". Mashable. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Top 7 Google Glass Alternatives". 22 January 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  18. ^ Scott Stein (18 February 2014). "Epson Moverio BT-200 Smart Glasses Preview – CNET". CNET. CBS Interactive.
  19. ^ Paul McDougall. "When Everybody Starts Wearing Smartglasses, Google Won't Be the Only Player". Scientific American. Retrieved 16 August 2015.