Google Glass-style smart glass products may not exactly be mainstream yet. But Google’s not the only company working on wearable, head-up displays. Lenovo, Toshiba, and Sony, all have their own models under development.
Now Sony is unveiling a new product that’s designed to turn a normal pair of glasses into a smartglass product.
The new Sony Single-Lens Display Module can be attached to sunglasses, prescription glasses, or whatever pair of fashionable specs you already have — so you don’t need to buy a new pair of glasses.
The system basically just uses your glasses as a frame that holds the lens and other components in place, but Sony says it”s compact and light enough to be used with ordinary frames.
Sony’s lens is a 640 x 400 pixel color OLED display that measures 0.23 inches diagonally. It float over one eye to let you view notifications or other graphics superimposed on whatever you’re seeing in the real world.
The company figures this can be used in sports, entertainment, or work environments where software can give you information-at-a-glance.
Sony’s module features an ARM Cortex-A7 processor, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, and a 400 mAh battery. It also has a touch sensor, accelerator, and compass which you can use to interact with the device.
Sony plans to offer an SDK that helps developers create third-party apps for the module.
via GigaOm
Sony keeps on developing actually useful stuff lately. Already liked their QX1 very much, only waiting for waterproofing, the Xperia line is great, and now this – what is missing is a smartwatch with full Android, G3 and waterproofed, like a Galaxy S, but better. But, as far as glasses go, this one looks great, at least until Fraunhofer’s technology of using the inner part of the glasses themselves as a display is translated into a product.
Super!
Does SONY have an app?
No? Huh.
Why not put most of the electronics on a belt module then feed the display wirelessly? At least it would be more comfortable to wear.
Seems like it’s more than twice as big as the outboard side of Glass. I can’t imagine many people being interested in having such a huge e-barnacle hanging off their frames…
well, seeing how this barnacle is optional (aka removable), it has already one gigantic advantage over permanent solutions such as Glass or Recon’s Jet.
3rd picture is false advertisement. Your eye can’t focus on the screen and the background at the same time.
that’s far more of a useful concept than the original google glass and i could actually see myself wearing something like that while i ride my bike (speed, traveled distance, current heartbeet, taking photos, …)