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| = [[AR glasses]] =
| | #Redirect [[Augmented reality glasses]] |
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| '''[[AR glasses]]'''—also known as '''[[smart glasses]]''' or '''[[augmented reality]] (AR) glasses'''—are wearable [[head-mounted display|head-mounted]] devices that superimpose computer-generated images, data, or 3-D models onto the user’s real-world view. In contrast to [[virtual reality]] (VR) headsets, which fully occlude the outside world, AR glasses use transparent optics such as [[waveguide]] or prism [[optics]] so the wearer simultaneously sees both physical surroundings and virtual overlays.<ref name="IEEEDef">{{cite web |title=AR Glasses Spawn a Whole New Social Dynamic |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/ar-glasses |website=IEEE Spectrum |date=28 July 2023 |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
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| Modern AR glasses integrate miniature [[microdisplay|micro-displays]] (OLED, LCD or LCoS), optical combiners, and an array of [[sensor]]s (RGB/depth cameras, [[IMU]], eye-trackers) driven by low-power [[system-on-chip|SoCs]]. Real-time [[simultaneous localization and mapping|SLAM]] keeps holograms locked to the environment while voice, hand-tracking, or gaze provide input—all in a hands-free form factor that resembles ordinary eyewear.
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| == History and evolution ==
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| * '''1968 – Ivan Sutherland’s “head-mounted display.”''' Widely regarded as the first optical see-through AR system, Sutherland’s ceiling-mounted prototype demonstrated dynamic 3-D wireframe graphics aligned to the real world.<ref name="Sutherland1968">{{cite web |last=Werner |first=John |title=Catchup With Ivan Sutherland — Inventor Of The First AR Headset |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnwerner/2024/02/23/catchup-with-ivan-sutherlandinventor-of-the-first-ar-headset/ |website=Forbes |date=23 February 2024 |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
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| * '''1990 – Term “augmented reality.”''' [[Thomas Caudell]] of Boeing coins the phrase while describing a heads-up wiring harness guide for aircraft assembly.<ref name="Caudell1990">{{cite web |title=Thomas Caudell – Hall of Fame |url=https://www.awexr.com/hall-of-fame/20-thomas-caudell |website=AWE XR |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
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| * '''2013 – [[Google Glass]].''' The first large-scale consumer smart-glass trial sold a US$1,500 “Explorer Edition” monocular unit to early adopters and sparked privacy debates.<ref name="Glass2013">{{cite news |last=Blagdon |first=Jeff |title=Google expands Glass pre-orders to ‘creative individuals’ |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/2/20/4006748/google-project-glass-explorer-edition-pre-order |work=The Verge |date=20 February 2013 |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
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| * '''2016 – [[Microsoft HoloLens]].''' The first fully untethered, binocular AR headset for enterprise shipped to developers, introducing integrated depth-sensing and gesture input.<ref name="HoloLens2016">{{cite news |last=Warren |first=Tom |title=This is what Microsoft HoloLens is really like |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/1/11334488/microsoft-hololens-video-augmented-reality-ar-headset-hands-on |work=The Verge |date=1 April 2016 |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
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| * '''2018 – [[Magic Leap One]].''' Magic Leap released its first commercial mixed-reality visor with diffractive waveguides and an external “Lightpack” compute puck.<ref name="MagicLeap2018">{{cite news |title=Magic Leap launches its first product |url=https://www.axios.com/2018/08/08/magic-leap-launches-first-product-one-creator-addition |work=Axios |date=8 August 2018 |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
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| * '''2021 – [[Snap Spectacles]] (4th gen).''' Snap’s developer-only AR Spectacles added dual waveguide displays and 6-DoF tracking in a 134 g frame.<ref name="Spectacles2021">{{cite news |last=Lunden |first=Ingrid |last2=Matney |first2=Lucas |title=Snap announces a new generation of Spectacles, streamlined glasses to experience the world in AR |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/20/snap-announces-its-latest-generation-of-its-spectacles-a-streamlined-device-for-experience-the-world-in-ar/ |work=TechCrunch |date=20 May 2021 |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
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| * '''2023 – [[Apple Vision Pro]].''' Apple unveiled a premium mixed-reality headset combining 23-million-pixel micro-OLED displays, a custom R1 coprocessor and visionOS.<ref name="VisionPro2023">{{cite press release |title=Introducing Apple Vision Pro: Apple’s first spatial computer |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/06/introducing-apple-vision-pro/ |publisher=Apple |date=5 June 2023 |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
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| NASA has even flown AR glasses: Microsoft HoloLens units reached the [[International Space Station]] in 2015 as part of Project Sidekick to provide astronauts with remote expert guidance.<ref name="NASA2015" />
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| == Technical components ==
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| === Optics and displays ===
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| Most systems use transparent [[waveguide display|waveguide displays]] or reflective prisms that channel light from miniature [[OLED]]/[[LCD]] [[microdisplay]]s into the wearer’s eyes. Research prototypes now employ inverse-designed [[metasurface]] gratings to deliver full-color holography in eyeglass-scale optics.<ref name="Nature2024" />
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| === Sensors and tracking ===
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| Typical AR glasses integrate:
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| * Multiple RGB/depth cameras for environment capture
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| * An [[inertial measurement unit]] for low-latency head pose
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| * Eye-tracking cameras for foveated rendering or UI
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| * Optional [[LiDAR]] or time-of-flight sensors for coarse depth
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| Fused [[visual-inertial odometry]] and SLAM keep virtual objects anchored in real space.
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| === Processing and power ===
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| Standalone devices employ mobile [[Qualcomm Snapdragon|Snapdragon XR]] or custom silicon (e.g., Apple’s M2 + R1) with on-board batteries. Tethered designs off-load compute to a smartphone or “compute puck,” reducing head-borne weight.
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| == Form factors ==
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| * '''Monocular''' (single-eye) vs. '''binocular''' (two-eye)
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| * '''Tethered''' (requires external host) vs. '''stand-alone'''
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| * '''Optical see-through''' vs. '''video pass-through''' (e.g., Vision Pro)
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| == Applications ==
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| * '''[[Remote assistance]] & field service''' – Live video, annotations and step-by-step holograms can cut maintenance time by up to 50 % and raise first-time-fix rates 30 %.<ref name="Ericsson2025" />
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| * '''Industrial & logistics''' – Pick-by-vision, assembly guidance, quality inspection.
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| * '''Medical''' – Surgical navigation, anatomy overlays, remote proctoring.
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| * '''Consumer entertainment & gaming''' – Hands-free AR games, giant virtual screens.
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| * '''Military & aerospace''' – Heads-up situational awareness; NASA’s Sidekick on ISS.<ref name="NASA2015">{{cite web |title=NASA, Microsoft Collaborate to Bring Science Fiction to Science Fact |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-microsoft-collaborate-to-bring-science-fiction-to-science-fact/ |website=NASA |date=25 June 2015 |access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
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| == Leading products and companies ==
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| {| class="wikitable"
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| ! Device !! First release !! Notes
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| | [[Microsoft HoloLens 2]] || 2019 || Binocular, waveguide optics, hand-tracking
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| | [[Magic Leap 2]] || 2022 || 70° FOV, dynamic dimming, enterprise focus
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| | [[Apple Vision Pro]] || 2024 || Dual 4K micro-OLED, eye-tracking, video pass-through
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| | [[Snap Spectacles]] (4th gen) || 2021 || 46° FOV waveguides, Creator beta
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| | [[Vuzix Blade 2]] || 2023 || Sunglass form factor, ANSI-rated for industry
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| | [[Epson Moverio]] BT-45 || 2022 || Si-OLED binocular smart-glasses
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| |}
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| == Software platforms ==
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| * '''[[ARKit]]''' for iOS (2017)<ref name="ARKit2017" />
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| * '''[[ARCore]]''' for Android (2017)<ref name="ARCore2017" />
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| * '''[[OpenXR]]''' cross-vendor standard
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| * '''visionOS''' (Apple), '''Windows Mixed Reality''', '''Lumin OS''', '''Snap OS'''
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| == Privacy, ethics and social acceptance ==
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| Always-on cameras and eye-tracking raise surveillance concerns. Google Glass’s 2013 rollout provoked bans in bars and cinemas and the term “Glasshole.”<ref name="Glass2013" /> Designers now emphasise LED capture indicators, on-device processing, and fashion-friendly styling to improve social acceptance.
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| == Market trends ==
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| According to [[IDC]], global AR/VR headset shipments grew 10 % in 2024 and are forecast to jump 41 % in 2025, driven by cheaper hardware and on-device AI.<ref name="IDC2024" /> Counterpoint Research likewise projects “AI smart-glasses” to achieve double-digit million-unit volumes by 2029. Enterprise demand currently outpaces consumer uptake due to clear productivity ROI, but analysts expect mainstream adoption as weight, cost, and app ecosystems improve.
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| == Future outlook ==
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| Research directions include:
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| * [[Metasurface]] and holographic waveguides for thin, full-color optics<ref name="Nature2024" />
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| * [[Retinal projection]] and [[varifocal display]]s to solve vergence-accommodation conflict
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| * Edge/cloud off-load over [[5G]] for light glasses with all-day battery
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| * AI copilots that contextualise the environment and anticipate user intent (e.g., Meta’s Project Orion prototypes)
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| == References ==
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| <references />
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