Vuzix, a smart eyewear startup based in Rochester, NY, plans to launch a smart, lightweight, comfortable augmented reality smart glasses this year.
As we all know, too "science fiction" smart glasses will always cause some embarrassment in daily use, and now Vuzix is ​​trying to reverse this situation. At the CES conference in January this year, Vuzix released Blade 3000 smart sunglasses and M3000 smart glasses. Paul Traver, chief executive of Vuzix, said in a recent interview that the company's new products will be free of bulky appearance.
Vuzix's new smart glasses will be equipped with new ultra-thin waveguide lenses and Cobra II engine, plus digital optical processing (DLP) micro-projection display technology from Texas Instruments, enabling this augmented reality product to reach the industry's smallest and lightest level . Vuzix's goal is to control its overall weight at 80 grams.
After wearing the prototype, we can shoot the lens to see the outside, and the optical engine will project the mixed image onto the lens, allowing you to see these objects in the real world. According to Digi-Capital, a science and technology consultancy, this augmented reality technology and its "brother" virtual reality technology can create a market worth $108 billion in 2021.
Travers said: "Our glasses, you can wear it all day without feeling embarrassed, and will not feel tired. Based on this, you can also see high-quality images."
Vuzix has many competitors in the market, and each manufacturer is dreaming of building a smart glasses based on augmented reality technology. However, it is difficult for manufacturers to find a balance between performance and size: if you want a vivid image, you need powerful processing power and excellent display technology, but this often makes the equipment heavy and expensive.
A company called Ostehout plans to launch R-series augmented reality glasses for $1,000 (about RMB 6860) this year. The glasses weigh about 128 grams. Osterhout said that R-series smart glasses will have a wide field of vision and "thin lenses."
Vuzix was established as early as 1997, and the company previously provided weapon sight technology to the US military. Vuzix is ​​currently listed on the Nasdaq, has 49 patents, and 43 patents are pending.
Vuzix's design integrates a built-in projection device to the temples, while other competing products are mounted on the top of the frame in the form of "squares." Travers said that the extra volume will increase the weight and make the glasses heavier.
Vuzix smart glasses are equipped with an eight-core Marvell processor, running Android 5.0 system, built-in 32GB space, environmental sensors and microphones. It supports Google Assistant's voice command function using a waveguide lens solution. Travers said that the company plans to reduce its price to less than 1,000 US dollars this year and adjust it to 500 US dollars (about 3,430 yuan) next year. This device is expected to be officially released in the second half of this year.
Travers said that Vuzix's goals are those who are willing to increase costs and increase efficiency. Because augmented reality technology can help companies perform remote equipment maintenance. At the same time, telemedicine is also an application direction.
“We want to make the equipment practical,†Travers said. “We think that other manufacturers have not solved all the problems. If we can make smart glasses like an Oakley sunglasses, I think half of Americans will Buy it."
In early 2015, Intel invested $24.8 million in Vuzix, which has now raised more than $100 million. It now has 47 employees.
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