Smart glasses used to be mere science-fiction, Hollywood spy film material. However, with technological developments such as augmented reality (AR), smart glasses have become a more feasible form of futuristic eyewear.
Just recently, student researchers at Stanford University came up with rizzGPT - a pair of smart glasses that can display text from OpenAI's GPT-4 language model. Essentially, rizzGPT can listen to your conversation and tell you what to say next. The students have marketed the device as a potential advantage in job interviews or on dates. Of course, there's still a lot of room for improvement in rizzGPT if it's to be used seamlessly in crucial situations, as users would need help reading text from a screen as tiny as the eyeglass lenses. Moreover, there is always an ethical issue to consider.
However, rizzGPT is only one of many innovations and developments in the growing field of smart glasses. Below, we'll look at some of the other smart glasses and if they are worth the hype:
What are smart glasses?
Smart glasses are a form of wearable technology that uses AR to display information to its user. These devices can function as smartphone extensions, showing notifications and allowing quick actions like smartwatches would. Market research from ReportLinker indicates that the global smart glasses market was valued at $218.86 million in 2022, and is expected to grow by 9.50% through 2028 to meet shifting consumer preferences.
Today, smart glasses boast features and technologies such as polarized lenses, batteries, cameras, audio components, microphones, Bluetooth connectivity, and are water resistant. Some smart glasses also use eye-tracking technology that enables first-person video and camera controls, allowing users to record what they see. Other models can be connected to virtual assistants such as Google Assistant or Amazon's Alexa to carry out additional tasks via voice commands.
What brands are making them?
While smart glasses may sound like a recent invention, they have actually been around for a while. The CIA had their own version of "smart" glasses back in the 1970s - a pair of average-looking glasses that concealed a poisonous pill in the frames. Afterwards, Google launched Google Glass as an experiment in 2013. However, critics raised privacy and safety concerns about the device, causing it to fail in the long run.
Despite its futuristic features at the time, earlier versions of smart glasses didn't appeal to the general public because they simply weren't discreet or stylish enough, unlike the aviator sunglasses Peter Parker inherits from Tony Stark in Spider-Man: Far From Home. However, this isn't to say that brands and companies aren't learning. Companies like Bose came out with Bose Frames, and gaming peripherals company Razer released the Razer Anzu. These normal-looking glasses can pair with your phone for calls, listening to music, and interacting with a digital assistant.
Similarly, Ray-Ban partnered with Meta (formerly known as Facebook) to launch their Ray-Ban smart glasses line earlier this year. These glasses are equipped with the ability to film and share 60-second video clips, thanks to a small, built-in camera. Ray-Ban Stories also features touch controls at the device's side for pausing music, taking a photo, or recording a video. More importantly, unlike earlier prototypes, Ray-Ban offers smart glasses in their stylish and timeless designs, such as Wayfarer, Meteor, and Round.
What's next for smart glasses, then? Laser Focus World's feature on the future of AR smart glasses details technologies and lighting solutions such as laser beam scanning, which can help provide excellent-quality image resolution in smart glasses using smaller battery sizes so that design isn't compromised. Meanwhile, narrow-beam lasers can significantly reduce grain in projected images. As laser technologies continue to advance, smart glasses will become more and more seamless, combining AR technology with your ability to interact with the real world.
Are smart glasses worth the hype?
Ultimately, smart glasses have come a long way from their older counterparts. With the popularity of smartwatches, wireless earphones, and similar accessories, it's clear that consumers are warming up to wearable technology and its features. This fascination will only continue to grow alongside further developments in the technologies placed into smart glasses - from capturing images and videos using a hidden camera to having an AI language model provide real-time conversational tips and responses on your lens.
If you like being an early adopter of innovative technologies or have a desire to own things that provide additional convenience, smart glasses available can provide just that while being a stylish addition to your wardrobe. As the tech improves, we expect smart glasses to be just as popular as smartwatches, allowing us more control and convenience to use and access our digital tools.
