UPDATED 12:48 EDT / JANUARY 29 2015

Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin NEWS

Mourn Google Glass no more: 3 other smartglass alternatives

Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin

After Google stopped selling Glass on January 19, 2015, some wondered if Google Glass was officially dead. Google’s Explorer program will also phase out, with no additional software updates planned.

So is Google Glass completely dead? According to Tony Fadell, former CEO of Nest Labs Inc., acquired by Google last year, Glass will move out of Google X labs to become a standalone device. Fadell will head the new Glass project, but work on the device will be kept secret until the product is ready for release. No news yet as to what this final product will be, but we can assume that it still has something to do with heads-up displays (HUDs).

Google will still continue to sell Glass to businesses, developers and educational institutions, with plans to double down on Glass at Work for enterprise developers and companies that see the potential of using Glass for work-related tasks.

googleglassGoogle Glass is not entirely dead, but it may be approaching its deathbed as a consumer offering. This gives other companies developing smartglass a chance to dominate the market, especially the consumer side. Which device has the potential to be the go-to HUD for consumers? Here are a few products to consider.

Sony SmartEyeglass Attach

 

Sony Corp. showcased the SmartEyeglass Attach prototype at CES 2015. The device turns your ordinary glasses into smart ones. The attachment features a screen that is only 0.5cm high and goes over your glasses. The small device gives you an unobstructed view of your surroundings, but the size may be an issue when reading text since it’s very tiny.

Though the screen is small, a bulky module houses the device’s processor, sensors and camera. Despite the bulk, the attachment is said to be lightweight and not very bothersome when worn. Expect the device to be available sometime in 2015.

ODG’s military-grade smartglass

 

Osterhout Design Group (ODG), a startup that creates augmented reality glasses for military and industrial use, will be launching a consumer version of its smartglasses this year. ODG’s military-grade smartglasses features two 720p displays, one for each eye, to employ a stereoscopic 3D image. The smartglasses can be described as the fusion between Google Glass and Oculus Rift, as it delivers both real-time information and an immersive experience.

The glasses feature a Snapdragon 805 processor, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, camera, Android KitKat, which can be updated to Lollipop, and a battery life that lasts a day depending on use. Most of the features will be available on the consumer version, but some may be enhanced. The consumer version will launch later this year and be priced under $1,000.

Vuzix’s waveguide technology smartglass

 

Vuzix Corp. demoed a prototype of a unique smartglass at CES 2015. The smartglass utilizes waveguide technology, which creates images directly on the lenses while staying transparent.

At the show, the prototype shown was bulky and kind of resembles a 3D-viewer toy, but the company also showed off frames that it intends to utilize for the commercial release of the smartglass.


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