Smart glasses

Smartglasses or smart glasses are eye- or head-worn wearable computers. Many smart glasses include a transparent display that overlays digital information onto the user’s view. Some definitions focus on vision – for example, Ampere’s Dusk smart sunglasses use electrochromic lenses that let wearers change tint on demand via an app. Others focus on audio – many models have built-in speakers and microphones for hands-free voice commands and media. If they include head-tracking, smart glasses can serve as augmented reality (AR) devices. They typically present information via a transparent heads-up display (HUD) or an optical combiner that superimposes projected images on the real world. Modern smart glasses effectively function as wearable computers: they support wireless connectivity (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS) and can run self-contained mobile apps. Some models accept voice input, while others provide touch controls (e.g. a side touchpad). Advanced versions may include sensors (GPS, cameras, accelerometers) for activity tracking: for example, Minimis smart glasses display live workout stats and navigation maps in the wearer’s field of view.

Features and applications

Smart glasses equipped with GPS and cameras can record fitness and location data like other wearable trackers. For instance, fitness-focused smart glasses can show live workout metrics and route maps directly in the user’s field of vision. In practice, most smart glasses today pair with a smartphone for processing and connectivity; the glasses then act as a head-up display for the phone.

Security applications

Smart glasses have been tested by law enforcement. In China, police in Zhengzhou deployed AR glasses to scan travelers against a facial-recognition database. In Beijing, officers tested glasses that could automatically identify vehicle passengers and license plates in seconds.

Healthcare applications

Google Glass and similar devices have been trialed in medical settings. For example, in Australia new mothers wore Glass to receive hands-free lactation coaching: consultants watched their Glass camera feed and guided them through breastfeeding in real time.

Display types

Smart glasses use various optical techniques to deliver images to the eye. Common approaches include tiny projectors reflecting off a lens, diffractive or holographic waveguides embedded in the lens, curved reflectors, and even retinal projection. In each case the goal is to present data on a built-in transparent display in front of the eye.

Smart sunglasses

Some “smart glasses” are essentially sunglasses with electronically tunable lenses. They use liquid-crystal or electrochromic panels that switch polarization or opacity to darken the lenses. For example, Ampere’s Dusk has electrochromic lenses that can change from clear to dark under app control.

Human–computer interface

Smart glasses can be operated by multiple input methods: touch controls, voice commands, head or eye gestures, or companion devices. (For example, some prototypes have used gesture-control software.)

Notable products

A number of major tech companies have developed smart glasses. In development are devices such as Xiaomi’s AR glasses and Meta’s “Orion” prototype AR glasses. Current products include specialized AR headsets (Magic Leap, Microsoft HoloLens), Vuzix smart glasses, and various eyewear with audio and cameras (e.g. Snap’s Spectacles, Meta/Luxottica’s Ray-Ban Stories). Discontinued devices include Google Glass (2013–2015 consumer version), early Epson Moverio models, Oakley Airwave, and others.

History

Early concepts of head-mounted displays date back decades. Notably, in 2012 Apple was granted a US patent (filed in 2006) for a wearable head-mounted display apparatus. In November 2012, Google Glass was named one of Time magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2012” alongside other breakthrough technologies. Glass launched to developers in 2013, but after mixed reception Google ended consumer sales in January 2015.

Market structure

Analyst forecasts have varied. In 2013 Forrester reported that 12% of US online adults (around 21.6 million people) would be willing to wear AR glasses. BI Intelligence projected that smart eyewear sales could reach roughly 21 million units per year by 2018. These optimistic projections have been tempered by slower adoption in practice.

Reception

Google Glass drew both fascination and backlash. Wired noted that its always-on camera “freaked people out,” and that some early wearers were ejected from bars amid privacy concerns. Glass became a cultural symbol of tech hubris and led to debates over surveillance. By 2015 public interest waned and Google discontinued the consumer version of Glass.

Privacy concerns

Privacy advocates warned that ubiquitous eyewear cameras could compromise bystanders’ privacy. Wired journalist Rose Eveleth observed that Glass wearers were often asked to leave establishments due to concern over recording, reflecting broader worries that people in public might be filmed or identified without consent.

Safety concerns

Authorities have cautioned against using smart glasses while driving. In 2013 the UK Department for Transport announced that drivers using Google Glass would face the same penalties as drivers texting or using a phone. Similarly, a San Diego court in 2014 threw out a Google Glass driving citation when the judge found no proof the device was active.