Augmented reality (AR) technology has seen unparalleled growth in 2020. Tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon took AR technology to a new level. The global augmented reality market was valued at USD 1.98 billion in 2020 and is expected to register a CAGR of 151.93% over the forecast period (2021 - 2026).
Read more: Smart AR Glasses, Smart Helmets: Market Analysis and Forecasts
From healthcare to factory floors, augmented reality glasses are aiding people in various professions do their job efficiently. Doctors use them to conduct precise surgery and factory workers use them for productivity, efficiency, and safety. AR glasses have been identified as a vital technology supporting shop-floor operators in the smart factories of the future.
A new leak on Twitter sheds some light on Samsung’s ‘Glasses Lite’ and ‘Next Wearable Computing’ AR vision. The Twitter user "WalkingCat" shows two videos about new augmented reality glasses from Samsung. The glasses are roughly about working with holographic surfaces and models. A similar concept is already known from Microsoft's HoloLens. The "Glasses Lite" are more realistic, which projects a monitor into the user's field of vision. With one click and without a PC, you can simply continue watching or gaming films and series, provided the hardware is compatible. Video calls can also be accepted conveniently anywhere. Control of the AR glasses runs in this case not with futuristic gestures or swiping movements through the air, but with the smartwatch on the wrist. An interesting solution that also seems conceivable for other manufacturers.
Apple’s rumored AR glasses may come equipped with self-cleaning functionality and radar-like audio, according to the patent application. AppleInsider reports that Apple’s patent application shows the company applied for an "audio-based feedback for [a] head-mountable device,” suggesting the tech giant is working on technology for its AR glasses which could see them capable of detecting far-away sounds and informing the wearer of their location, reports TechRadar. Another patent submitted by Apple indicates the glasses might come with self-cleaning glass.
Read more: Microsoft Files Patent for Eyeglasses That Measure Blood Pressure
American startup Magic Leap is following in the footsteps of Microsoft's Hololens. The company’s AR glasses are used almost exclusively in the commercial sector. Magic Leap has to do a lot to stand up to the competition. According to a media report, the new Magic Leap AR glasses will be 50% smaller and around 20% lighter than its predecessor. The field of vision, on the other hand, will double. Can the price beat Hololens? Compared to the Hololens 2, which costs $3,500, Magic Leap One is a real bargain. Should the new model settle in a similar price range, the air for Microsoft could become thinner, according to ComputerBild.
