Augmented reality glasses Apple Glass: concept. The original prototype of Apple Glass glasses The development of virtual glasses technology
One of the most promising types of wearable computers is smart glasses that can provide the user with information about the world around them using augmented reality technology. The most popular such product is Google Glass.
Despite the status of the most innovative company in the world, it surprises quite rarely, adhering to the same path for a long time. More often than not, a company prefers to follow the beaten path, even holding all of its presentations around the same time. So when Apple pulled out of the October event this year, everyone was surprised. In the end, we expected several fresh new products from him at once, which, apparently, were not destined to come out this fall. However, as it became known quite recently, the presentation still took place, albeit for an extremely limited circle of people.
Every year we look forward to the next Apple presentation, hoping that this time they will definitely present something unusual. But either we have already developed immunity to everything new, or the company really hasn’t shown anything revolutionary for a long time, but it seems that over the past five years there has never been something that would truly surprise everyone without exception. In the end, it is difficult to call the iPhone with an additional camera module or the Apple Watch with a non-fading display a revolution. However, it seems that next year we are waiting for exactly what we have been waiting for so long.
Despite the fact that rumors about the first smart glasses have been around for a long time, until now they have remained only rumors without any confirmation. As a result, this topic has long been fertile ground for all sorts of gossip and speculation. What kind of thoughts were not born in the inflamed brain of analysts and insiders of various calibers, striving to make a name on forecasts about a future novelty. But now everything has fallen into place. Almost.
Arguing that Apple is a cult corporation that can be safely called a lifestyle is pointless. The company has millions of followers around the world, ready to meekly accept what it releases or is about to release. Sometimes this resignation leads to completely absurd situations. For example, as in the case of smart glasses, with which Apple entered the top three in the industry, despite the fact that not only has it not been released for sale, but has not even been announced yet.
The path towards increasing the displays of mobile devices and smartphones, including the one chosen for itself, has a minimum of prospects. This follows from a statement by Randall Stevenson, CEO of the US operator AT&T. According to him, such a development model is suitable only as an intermediate stage that the company must overcome in time. Only in this way, Stephenson is sure, will it be able to continue to be the main innovator of the industry, risking otherwise degrading to a position of catching up.
It's no secret that Apple has long been interested in augmented reality technologies. So far, the company has limited itself to launching a platform with a set of tools for developers. But, according to authoritative analyst Ming Chi-Kuo, the corporation plans to develop this direction. She intends to do this with the release of a completely new and atypical device for the company - glasses with support for augmented reality.
The German designer is considering that in the near future, Apple may introduce another innovative product to the public after the Watch. And, most likely, it will be Apple Glass augmented reality glasses. The designer did not compare the accessory with an existing product from Google. He simply described the main functional features of glasses and showed how useful they can be in everyday life.
Apple Glass will complement reality with useful information. The glasses will constantly analyze the environment and give maximum information about the objects encountered. Naturally, Apple Glass will work in conjunction with the iPhone.
Users will always have the opportunity to see up-to-date information about the weather, time, new notifications, etc. before their eyes. The designer shows how the glasses can analyze the prices of products in hypermarkets and help in navigating the city.
Of course, several sensors will be integrated into the device, which will determine the physical presence of a person, temperature and pressure. In our opinion, visually the glasses look quite stylish: the classic style is sustained. Does the concept have a future? How do you think?
How Apple is going to surprise fans in the future? What will impress the audience more? Probably such a device will be "apple" glasses of augmented reality. There have been rumors about this invention for a long time.
The design of the novelty has already started. The device is credited with the name Apple Glass. The product will run Reality Operating System (or rOS for short). Alas, you should not hope for an early release. The debut is expected no earlier than 2020.
Do you want to evaluate the appearance of Apple Glass right now? Designer Martin Hayek provides such an opportunity. The enthusiast created concept images of the accessory (based on assumptions).
According to the renders, the gadget is the antipode of Google Glass. Externally, Apple Glass copies ordinary glasses. Key electronic components are located in the temples. There is a cutout on the front with a camera and sensors.
The frame is made of metal. You can control Apple Glass with touch, gestures and voice. Support for Qi wireless charging is also announced (like the Apple Watch). The estimated price is $1,000.
Tony Fadell, CEO of Nest, was once an Apple employee. Mr. Fadell says that Apple's developers have been working on a device like Google Glass for a long time, so Apple already has a sample of such a prototype. But, unfortunately, he does not know what is missing in order to bring the project to the finish line.
Innovative beginnings
The company has always had a desire to create any revolutionary devices and devices. For example, such options for new products as video cameras, control panels, televisions, and innovative glasses of various effects were considered. By the way, it was glasses for developers that seemed like a crazy idea then.
First, visor glasses appeared on the market (even several models at once), with the help of which the user felt like in a movie theater.
Glasses from Apple did not differ much from Google Glass: they looked more like devices with virtual reality.
Experts believe Tony Fadell's information is exaggerated. After all, Apple has always had the resources and means to create such glasses. Maybe developers are just experimenting with suitable and ambitious ideas in order to master and work with new directions and trends in the IT industry.
Focus principle
Apple, it must be said, has always been guided by a peculiar principle of focusing its efforts on a relatively small number of products. Back in 2011, Greg Joswick (Apple's vice president of marketing for the iPad, iPod and iPhone) stated that concentration is one of the four paths to success. Three more are courage, simplicity, and the best suggestion: “Not saying yes is not the same as saying no.”
Apple developers believe that it is impossible to work on many things at the same time, because there are not many high-quality players. If you do many things at once, then, most likely, none of them will turn out to be wonderful and the best.
Tony Fadell recalled that the idea of glasses with displays at the time seemed just crazy. Perhaps this was the decisive factor why the company abandoned the idea.
However, Apple still has not changed its mind. Already this year, Tim Cook at the AllThingsD D11 conference, talking about wearable devices, noted that it is rather difficult to imagine a large spread of devices like Google Glass, because devices, for example, on the wrist, seem to be more natural and interesting than devices worn on the head .
Important note
All in all, it's logical to assume that Apple has the tools and resources to experiment with just about every ambitious and high-tech idea.
Moreover, the company's specialists are trying to open completely new promising and successful areas of their business.
In Tony Fadell's message, something completely different is important: obviously, Apple once did not see a great future for such a product as glasses, because otherwise the management could find time, money and a well-coordinated team of highly qualified specialists to promote this project and for further work. over it. Although this, again, requires not only time, but also special attention of the entire leadership team ...
And here is an overview about Google Glass:
Russia is not far behind
Russian specialists also made a prototype of Google Glass with augmented reality. This device is similar in its capabilities to Google Glass, but there are some differences.
Testing of the Russian invention called SK Vitra will begin very soon.
