Innovations in the augmented reality glasses of tomorrow

Augmented reality glasses, which were still in the realm of science fiction just 10 years ago, may well be part of our daily lives in 10 years.

What is augmented reality (AR)?

Let's briefly define the principle of augmented reality. AR is a concept that encompasses all techniques aimed at enriching our environment with contextual information.

The glasses then offer the wearer the possibility of seeing virtual reality superimposed on the real world. Never before has the virtual world so profoundly impacted the field of vision of the user of virtual technologies.

However, this technology should not be confused with virtual reality glasses which almost "remove" reality in favor of the virtual, these glasses being increasingly used in the field of video games or even architecture.

The failure of Google Glass in the public sphere and its revival by the professional world

In the early 2010s, Google aimed to be a pioneer in the field by launching Google Glass. The goal was to make long-range optical devices (LRAs) easily accessible to a wide audience; unfortunately, the project, as it was conceived, did not come to fruition and was abandoned in 2015.

However, in 2017, it experienced a revival through another avenue: the professional sphere. Indeed, Google Glass was sold to professionals: doctors, surgeons, industrial engineers, etc. Moreover, they all use it in their work.

Augmented reality glasses and the world of work.

While sales to the general public were unsuccessful, this is not at all the case in the workplace. Augmented reality glasses are increasingly being used in professional settings such as industry.

According to an article published on the LCI website on December 14, 2020, taken from the report: Innovation: when reality bursts into industry. The report shows how engineers, by superimposing a virtual model onto the real one using glasses, can determine whether the part being analyzed is defective or not.

Thanks to this system, controllers save time during various checks without losing any efficiency.

In the nuclear field, this technology is combined with robotics. Thanks to this combination, engineers can safely control highly radioactive rooms. How? Engineers control a small robotic tank using goggles, allowing them to guide the robot during maneuvers.

Just as in the world of medicine, augmented reality has helped to overcome the limitations of the human eye during surgery. Indeed, during an operation, the surgeon cannot perceive everything, but augmented reality offers them the ability to perceive details previously invisible to the naked eye, thus increasing precision and reducing the risk of medical errors.

Glasses designed primarily for professionals.

In addition to Google, other providers have entered the market to offer glasses adapted for professionals. For example, Vuzix has become one of the market leaders in augmented reality glasses.

How did it manage to get into this position? The company, founded in 1997, was a pioneer in this field, but the lack of market opportunities meant that the company ultimately remained in the background before being brought to the forefront thanks to the boom in the use of glasses.

Today, the company has almost specialized in this field and offers glasses perfectly adapted to the needs of professionals: optical screen with high resolution, widened field of vision, etc… As demonstrated by one of its latest gems: the Vuzix M4000 .

Increasingly widespread use by the general public

Indeed, although not yet widely used by the general public, augmented reality glasses are becoming increasingly common. Recently, the arts have begun using this new technology to enrich the viewer experience, particularly for the deaf and hard of hearing, by displaying subtitles through the glasses.

Conclusion

Thus, thanks to its system of overlaying the virtual onto the real, augmented reality glasses have found their place in today's world. While their development was initially slow, they are gradually gaining ground as their usefulness in the workplace becomes undeniable.