AR glasses: Difference between revisions

{{see also|Smart glasses}}

'''[[AR glasses]]''' (also known as '''[[augmented reality]] glasses''' or '''[[smart glasses]]''') are wearable [[head-mounted display|head-mounted devices]] that overlay computer-generated imagery, data or 3-D models onto a user’s direct view of the physical world. Unlike [[virtual reality]] (VR) headsets, which occlude outside vision, AR glasses use transparent or semi-transparent optics ([[waveguide]]s, [[prism]]s or [[optical combiner|combiners]]) so the wearer simultaneously sees real surroundings and virtual overlays.<ref name="SynopsysAROptics">Synopsys. "How Do Augmented Reality Optics Work?". Retrieved 30 April 2025. https://www.synopsys.com/glossary/what-is-augmented-reality-optics.html</ref><ref name="VarjoExplained">Varjo. "Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality Explained". Retrieved 30 April 2025. https://varjo.com/virtual-augmented-and-mixed-reality-explained/</ref> Modern eyewear integrates miniature [[microdisplay|micro-displays]] (often [[OLED]], [[LCD]], or [[LCoS]]), transparent [[waveguide]] optics, and an array of [[sensor]]s—[[RGB camera|RGB]]/[[depth camera|depth cameras]], an [[inertial measurement unit]] (IMU), [[eye tracking|eye-trackers]], and sometimes [[LiDAR]]—all driven by low-power [[system-on-chip|SoCs]]. Real-time [[simultaneous localization and mapping]] (SLAM) locks holograms to the environment while voice, [[hand tracking|hand-tracking]] or gaze serves as input.<ref name="SLAMBenchmark">Sarlin P. et al. (2022). "LaMAR – Benchmarking Localization and Mapping for Augmented Reality". Proceedings of ECCV 2022. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-20071-7_40  https://lamar.ethz.ch/</ref> In this way AR glasses provide hands-free, heads-up access to information – for example showing navigation cues, text annotations, or [[3D model]]s superimposed on actual objects – without obscuring the user’s natural vision.

Standalone (untethered) glasses rely on mobile [[system-on-chip|SoCs]] such as [[Qualcomm]]’s [[Snapdragon#XR (Extended Reality)|Snapdragon XR]] series or [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]’s dual-chip [[Apple M2|M2]] + [[Apple R1|R1]] architecture in the [[Apple Vision Pro]].<ref name="VisionProAvailability" /><ref name="QualcommXR2">Qualcomm. "Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Platform". Retrieved 30 April 2025. https://www.qualcomm.com/products/mobile/snapdragon/xr-vr-ar/snapdragon-xr2-plus-gen-2-platform</ref> [[Tethered computing|Tethered]] designs (e.g., early [[Magic Leap One]]) off-load computation to a [[smartphone]] or belt-worn “compute puck” to reduce head-borne weight and potentially increase performance. [[Battery (electricity)|Battery]] life remains a significant constraint, typically lasting only a few hours under active use.

*  '''[[Optical see-through]] vs. [[Video pass-through]]:''' ''Optical see-through'' uses transparent optics to directly view the world with overlays. ''Video pass-through'' uses external cameras to capture the world, digitally mixing it with virtual content before displaying it internally (e.g., [[Apple Vision Pro]]).

| [[Xreal|Xreal Air 2]] / Air 2 Pro || [[Xreal]] || 2023 || Binocular [[OLED]], lightweight "AR viewer" tethered to phone/PC, consumer media/productivity

*Potential for misuse (e.g., covert recording, [[face recognition]] without consent).

*Digital distraction and safety risks (e.g., obscured vision, attention diversion).

*'''AI Integration:''' On-device [[AI]] assistants that understand user context, interpret the environment, and provide proactive information (e.g., [[Meta Platforms|Meta]]'s [[Project Orion (Meta)|Orion]] prototype concept).<ref name="OrionVerge" />