Smart Glasses, which debuted at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, is Los Angeles–based tech company Daqri's latest addition to its line of augmented reality (AR) gear. Last year, the company released an update to its Smart Helmet, which allows construction workers to use 4D display and visual-inertial navigation to map out their surroundings, as well as pinpoint their own location through AR. Though the Smart Glasses employ similar technology to the helmet, they are suited more for less rugged environments, such as lean manufacturing floors and engineering, architecture, and construction offices, where efficiency is also a requirement.
Like the Smart Helmet, the Smart Glasses operate on a sixth-generation Intel Core m7 processor and use Intel's RealSense LR200 Depth Sensor to gauge depth and pinpoint the user's location. The key difference is that the glasses, by design, are noticeably more compact and lightweight than the helmet, weighing an evenly distributed 14 ounces—compared to the 3.3-pound helmet. Unlike the helmet, the glasses do not provide physical protection and do not feature thermal-imaging technology that helped workers monitor and maintain work sites.
The Smart Glasses can be used in professions where employees would benefit from sharing files and images in real-time—effectively bringing the field to the office. The glasses also help with remote assistance, utilizing its AR tracking camera that allows users to relay what they are seeing firsthand via computer to their colleagues. Modular in form, the Smart Glasses come with a Compute Pack which can be connected and disconnected to share recorded information with coworkers.
Due to their compact size, the Smart Glasses can be easily worn by multiple users who want to access high-quality renderings on-the-go, and remain in visual communication with coworkers. The transparent AR display lenses feature high brightness, which allows for both indoor and outdoor use. A biometric fingerprint sensor located on the Compute Pack expedites the process of logging in to view personal files.
The Smart Glasses are currently available through an early adopter program only.
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