AR Eyewear

AR eyewear superimposes contextually relevant information directly on a wearer’s vision. This tech has been around for a few years now, but it’s still not quite a mass-market product.

At CES 2023, Israel-based AR optics developer Lumus showcased new technology that makes it easier to make AR glasses that look like regular glasses. Its new Z-Lens 2D waveguide architecture enables smaller and lighter AR modules.

Vuzix Blade

Designed for enterprise use, the Blade is built and shaped like a pair of regular glasses. This makes them easier to use for users that don’t usually wear smart glasses – but they still have the same functionality as any other pair of smart glasses, with features like an ANSI Z87.1 certified visor and a touchpad for interacting with apps.

The Vuzix Blade connects frontline workers with critical AR systems, enabling hands-free, heads-up access to data and remote expertise in a lightweight form factor that’s perfect for work environments. Ultrabright waveguide optics merge digital instructions with real-world tasks, removing distractions and vision occlusion to keep employees focused on their work.

It also has an eight-megapixel camera, capable of taking high-quality pictures and videos, as well as voice-activated photos that rival those taken on smartphones. You can take photos and videos by tapping the display or saying “take picture.” It also has haptic motors for vibrating alerts, motion sensors to maintain the image and noise-cancelling microphones for voice control.

You can also send photos and videos from the Blade to your PC if you enable USB mode on the glasses. Once you do this, the glasses will open up a window on your computer allowing you to view and transfer files.

Another way to use the Blade is with Amazon Alexa, which is integrated in the glasses. It can control smart home devices, check the weather and even play a game that projects a pre-Cambrian jungle with dinosaurs. The only downside is that it takes two taps to activate it – the first one to launch the app and the second one to put the glasses into listening mode.

On the software side, the Blade 2 runs on Android 11, enabling it to integrate with modern MDM solutions and offering better security for businesses. It also has more storage capacity, a 720p/8MP camera, a USB port and Bluetooth for pairing with a phone.

Vuzix has a variety of apps for the Blade, including games, calling and texting support, weather, turn-by-turn driving directions and even Amazon Alexa. These are all available to download through the company’s companion app, which is free on iOS and Android.

North Focals

The North Focals were the first consumer AR glasses I tried, and while they’re not perfect, they did get me excited about what smart glasses could be. The augmented reality display was lively, colorful, and fun to use.

The display works by projecting light into a concave image circle in the right eyepiece, which is controlled through a ring called the ar eyewear Loop that’s both a joystick and a button. The loop allows you to scroll through notifications, map directions, and even call an Uber. The graphics are crisp and colorful, with a variety of emojis for incoming messages.

There’s also a compass on the front of the glasses that shows you your location in the real world. It also tells you the quickest way to reach your destination by public transportation during rush hour and lets you send an ETA message.

But despite all that, I have to say that I never really got the hang of the Focals. They were super fussy to use, with the display only visible when you wore the glasses exactly in the right place (no matter how much North tries to make the fit perfect), and it was hard for me to see them clearly because of my prescription.

Moreover, the Focals aren’t a great pair of AR glasses for everyday use, because they’re too heavy and can get in the way. It’s not a big deal when you’re on a commute or at work, but after a few hours wearing them it becomes quite the issue.

It’s a good thing that North has now developed a new version of its AR glasses, which are 40% smaller and more comfortable. If it can make them that lightweight and comfortable, then maybe it’s finally time to try them on again.

If you were interested in buying a pair of Focals, you’ll need to visit a showroom in New York or ar eyewear Toronto to have your face scanned for a custom fit. Once you’ve done that, North will ship your glasses and you can start using them. Currently, North only sells a limited number of pairs at a time so it’s best to get in on the act early.

Nreal Air

As the name suggests, the Nreal Air is designed to deliver an immersive entertainment experience. It’s a pair of glasses with semi-transparent 130in displays that let you watch your favorite content while still keeping your hands free.

The Nreal Air is a new addition to the growing category of smart glasses. It combines the form factor of a smartphone with the display of a tablet, and can also be used as a portable projector.

It’s not just a case for your phone either – it can be connected to a Mac, PC or even your Steam Deck to mirror the screen of whichever device you want. This can make it much easier to play games or watch movies on the go, especially when you’re traveling or taking a long plane ride.

Nreal Air connects to your smartphone via a USB-C port, and it’s easy enough to set up. You simply plug the Nreal Air into your phone’s USB-C port, and it will instantly start mirroring the device’s display onto the headset.

Once connected, you can download the Nebula app to begin using the Nreal Air’s augmented reality functionality. You’ll need one of the latest iPhones or Android smartphones, as well as a compatible Nreal Air headset to get started.

The Nreal Air is not only great for gaming, but it’s also a lot easier on the eyes than wearing a regular pair of glasses. It’s lightweight, adjustable and has three different nose pads to help find a comfortable fit.

You can also opt to use the Nreal Air with prescription lenses, which is good news if you’re struggling with your vision or have eye health issues. The glasses are compatible with a wide range of prescription lens, and you can get them from a variety of retailers including Lensology.

The Nreal Air is a great option for gamers who want a better mobile display than what’s available on the Steam Deck. It’s a little expensive, but the portability, enhanced full HD resolution and reduced risk of carpal tunnel syndrome are all worth it.

Tooz

Tooz is an augmented reality (AR) glasses start-up owned by ZEISS. The company focuses on AR glasses with prescription vision correction that are based on novel curved waveguides.

The company is a joint venture between Zeiss and telecom operator Telekom, and its main mission is to develop a scalable, ophthalmic wearable that meets the needs of consumers with prescriptions while providing a comfortable, lightweight and stylish form factor. To make this possible, the company has developed a unique platform that combines competencies in optics, opto-electronics and connectability into a customizable optics platform of smart lenses.

At a recent event in Barcelona, I got to try out the company’s AR glasses technology. The concept is fairly simple: it overlays notifications from apps on the right lens of a pair of glasses, which you can wear over your existing prescription glasses. The glasses are designed to feel like normal eyeglasses, and they can be used with a variety of frame designs.

It’s a very basic AR experience, and it’s not the most sci-fi or pretty thing I’ve ever seen, but you can definitely see how it would be helpful in some situations. The glasses are light, and the optics beam content directly into the lens in front of your eyes without obstructing your view.

Essentially, tooz’s ESSNZ Berlin design combines a curved waveguide and a microLED display into a new generation of AR glasses that offer high unobtrusiveness, excellent virtual image quality, eye protection and a low weight. The glasses can also be equipped with a microphone and speaker, which is useful for activating the voice assistant or making calls.

But the main reason these glasses work is the curved waveguide, which allows the integration of prescription in a manner that’s similar to that of regular glasses. The glasses are connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth, and once you’ve synced up the device, a wide range of notifications, functions and information can be displayed on the curved waveguide.

The glasses are slim, light and very comfortable to wear all day. In addition, they feature a high energy efficiency, as well as a hinge that makes it easy to fold them up when not in use. Additionally, tooz’s SWAP technology allows the end customer or optician to swap out the smart lenses independently if a change in diopter or a fashionable tint or mirror lens style is needed.