Producers of hi-tech connected eyewear are multiplying their innovations with increasingly discreet models in an attempt to make a difference in a highly competitive—and fast-emerging—market.
Live translation, GPS, cameras: glasses are quickly adopting new functionalities.
“There are so many of these smart wearables, and more of them are going on your face,” said Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where numerous smart glasses manufacturers showcased their latest innovations.
The industry has come a long way from its early days. Gone are the conspicuous protrusions of Google Glass and the bulky frames and cables of Epson’s Moverio from the early 2010s.
Today’s smart glasses, all paired with smartphone apps, increasingly resemble traditional eyewear. The Ray-Ban Meta, developed by Mark Zuckerberg’s social media giant, currently leads the market with this new approach.
According to a recent MarketsandMarkets study, the sector’s growth is “driven by advancements in augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and miniaturization technologies, which are pushing the boundaries of what these wearable devices can achieve.”
However, integrating technology into fashionable frames requires careful compromise. The Ray-Ban Meta, for instance, can capture photos and videos, play music, and provide information about objects in view, but doesn’t offer augmented reality with superimposed images.
Meta representative Robin Dyer explained that while AR capabilities may come later, they would likely double the current price.
