What Are Augmented Reality (AR) Glasses?

Augmented reality (AR) glasses overlay information onto your view of the world. This is different from virtual reality (VR) headsets, which completely take over your vision and hearing to create a completely separate world.

A new waveguide display is on the way, giving AR glasses better resolution and field of view than ever before. Israeli firm Lumus says it will supply the optical engine for at least one set of AR glasses from a major manufacturer this year.

Augmented Reality

AR glasses, also called smart glasses, are transparent devices that overlay augmented content on the view of the user’s eye. The technology combines light from microdisplays (such as those used in smartphones) with the light from the real world to project information on the object or scene in front of the user.

Unlike Virtual Reality (VR), which requires more immersive equipment, augmented reality can be delivered via a pair of glasses that are designed to be comfortable and easy to wear. These AR glasses can be either standalone or tethered to handheld devices, such as laptops or mobile phones.

Some examples of AR use include navigating and mapping, gaming, education, and training. In addition, it can enhance customer experience by presenting customers with 3D models of products and virtual walkthroughs of stores or rooms.

Another example of AR use is for comparison shopping. This allows consumers to see virtual versions of items they would be interested in purchasing, allowing them to make better choices.

It also allows users to try on products without leaving their home or office, such as when buying a new wardrobe for the bedroom or kitchen. These applications have the potential to revolutionize consumer shopping by enabling a more rounded experience.

For example, it could help IKEA shoppers visualize how a new piece of furniture will look in their room, giving them an idea of how it would fit and what color it will be. In the future, AR may even allow people to build and assemble their own furniture.

In the medical field, surgeons can use an AR device to project a 3D image of the patient’s brain onto the x-ray. It can also give airport ground crews a view of the cargo containers they will be working with, saving time and money.

The technology is also being used to train fighter jet pilots to fly against simulated combatants, instead of live-fire exercises. This saves money on combustibles and firepower, while also dramatically increasing safety for pilots.

While augmented reality has many benefits, it is a new technology with plenty of potential legal and ethical issues. Privacy concerns are a common concern. Some worry that it can be used to record conversations, capture pictures or identify the users by their face.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) glasses create an environment where the user can interact with a digital world. Unlike augmented reality, which overlays some additional content on the real world in front of a person, virtual reality uses head-mounted displays and multi-projected environments to create a three-dimensional image that feels realistic to the human eye.

The technology is used in the gaming industry, as well as in training simulators for medicine and surgery. The military is also using VR to train its troops for dangerous jobs.

It’s important to note that not all VR glasses are created equal. They vary AR glasses in price, display resolution and other factors. A high-resolution display goes a long way to enhancing the feeling of diving into an alternate reality, as does a powerful processor for complex visualizations. Movement sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes for sensing motion and directionality are also important, along with a larger RAM of at least 4 GB.

Many AR glasses feature a mobile device screen as their main interface, which can be used for navigation and to provide additional information. Some of these headsets allow users to share their screens with other people via apps.

In addition to the hardware, a variety of software is also needed to create a VR experience. These include VR development kits, visualization software, content management systems, and game engines.

The VR software can be integrated into a smartphone, or a computer can be used to create the environment. The latter can be more expensive and require the user to have an extra set of equipment.

One of the most innovative glasses is Vuzix’s Ultralite model, which integrates a tiny projector in a plastic frame and uses waveguides to bend light into your line of sight. This technology makes them less bulky than some of the other glasses available, which require a built-in display and can be difficult to wear all day.

Whether you’re in the construction, logistics or healthcare industries, AR glasses can improve your efficiency and help you find better solutions to common problems. For example, they can be used to train workers in the safe use of AR tools that can help them complete tasks faster and with greater accuracy. They can also be used to simulate new products or services before they’re introduced.

Sensors

The latest AR headsets rely on many different types of sensors to provide accurate motion and augmented-reality rendering of computer generated elements in the viewed scenes. Among the most common are Time of Flight Cameras, Binocular Depth Sensing, and Structured-Light Sensors.

As more AR and VR applications abound, the demand for advanced features like 4K/8K resolution processing, motion detection, and human detection are growing. These features require a lot of power and heat to render images and transmit data to the wearable device.

To solve these problems, Bosch Sensortec recently launched an optical Light Drive system for smart glasses at CES. This turnkey technology combines MEMS mirrors, optical elements, and sensors. Its single-source, all-in-one design enables an immersive visual experience and can reduce the depth of the display by 30 percent while eliminating the bulky design found in first-generation smartglasses.

This enables manufacturers to create the small, sleek glasses designs that consumers want without the visibly chunky look of traditional smartglasses. Additionally, the light-drive technology is able to deliver bright, crisp images that remain in focus even in direct sunlight.

Another key sensor in the augmented-reality arena is the inertial measurement unit (IMU). These devices are a combination of an accelerometer and a gyroscope, providing the accuracy of fast-motion measurements and the granularity of slow-motion measurements to eliminate image drifts in AR/VR applications.

Various IMU suppliers are currently targeting the AR/VR market and improving their sensor capabilities to serve a wide variety of applications for portable and wearable designs that bridge the real and virtual worlds. Bosch Sensortec and STMicroelectronics are two of the companies that have taken on this challenge in recent years.

Some of the other technologies that are gaining traction in the AR/VR realm include surface relief gratings and holographic gratings. Both of these diffractive waveguide systems are able to be made to look like the lenses of sunglasses, and are a viable solution for socially acceptable and immersive AR/VR applications.

Other sensors for AR glasses that have received a great deal of attention are proximity sensing mechanisms. These can be located in various strategic locations such as along the arms, on the bridge, or along the rim of the AR eyeglasses. These sensors may be used to detect usage of the eyeglasses for power management or for user interface elements such as volume control, display controls, and user input.

Applications

Augmented reality glasses (AR glasses) add digital information AR glasses to the real world. They display contextually accurate data, messages and navigation that’s set up on a mobile device. They can also function as a virtual computer display, where multiple screens appear in your field of view as if you were looking at a traditional PC monitor.

If you’re a sports fan, your AR glasses could show your team’s scores and statistics on the field, while if you’re shopping, they might let you choose the right outfit by showing what you can buy from different retailers. The possibilities are endless!

Business professionals in a variety of fields can benefit from AR glasses, too. For example, workers in warehouses can use them to find inventory more efficiently and track their job orders from anywhere in the building. They can also use them to diagnose a problem on a property and get help with the problem without leaving their work area.

Businesses can also make use of the technology to improve customer experience. Companies can use AR glasses to show customers where attractions are located and what options are available. They can also help clients navigate through their insurance coverage and estimate damage caused by accidents.

AR is a great way to engage with customers and create an experience that will be remembered. It can even help businesses stand out from the competition by making their products more practical and efficient.

Some AR devices can also be used to improve a home’s interior. These devices recognize icons or markers, such as a frame, the corner where two walls come together, and the lines of a window. They can then generate images of curtains and potted plants to “place” in a user’s field of view, and it’s all possible with augmented reality software.

Some AR glasses are a bit clunky, but the best ones allow you to easily interact with them using your hands. Examples include Nreal Light, GlassUp and Atheer One. These glasses can be connected to a smartphone through Bluetooth and project a screen in your field of vision.