Vuzix’s Waveguide Smart Glasses

Image via Vuzix

For many years, Vuzix has been a prominent fixture in the Video Eyewear and Smart Glasses industries. It appears that Google Glass now has a competitor since Vuzix announced its new line of Waveguide optics, which promises to revolutionize the way people interface with glasses-based wearable technology. Waveguide optics has joined forces with Nokia to provide a smart version of eyewear that fits into standard eyeglass frames. The eyewear moves light within the smartglasses, being a lightweight and comfortable option for those who seek prism-based optics eyewear.

Entitled the Vuzix M2000AR HMD, these glasses offer a wide field of view for the wearer. Waveguide optics use a 1.4-mm “window” with a small input pupil that expands using a hologram in front of the eye. With this method, light is not bent through a bulky material like with conventional optics. This way, the glasses have a lighter weight and mass, smaller volume while still delivering an optimal performance.

Image via Vuzix

The glasses have a head-mounted display that can be attached to the side of a hat, helmet, or head strap.

There are various significant  features within Vuzix’s glasses, including a 720p display and 1080p camera, an HDMI Interface, an electronic sunglasses “tint,” 30º FOV, integrated head tracking, and an integrated compass. The glasses contain 8,000 Nits of brightness. In regards to batteries used, the M2000AR HMD uses an anodized aluminum alloy enclosure and a rechargeable lithium ion battery. After 2-3 hours, users must recharge the battery either through its standard power pack or supported auxiliary pack.

Image via Vuzix

Vuzix wants the wearer to access graphical displays on the glasses from any desired computer, smartphone, or tablet that the user owns.

The M2000AR will be presented at CES 2014. At $6,000, the price is pretty hefty. The glasses will hit the market in 2014.

Article via Vuzix