Kopin Golden-I

Kopin Golden-I
Basic Info
VR/AR	Augmented Reality
Type	Smart Glasses
Subtype	Enterprise AR, Wearable Computer
Platform	Windows Embedded CE 6.0
Creator	Kopin Corporation
Developer	Kopin Corporation, Motorola Solutions
Manufacturer	Kopin Corporation
Announcement Date	2009 (initial), 2012 (Gen 3.5)
Release Date	2012 (developer kits)
Price	$2,500 (Development Kit)
Website	https://www.kopin.com/
Versions	Golden-I Gen 2, Gen 3.5, Gen 3.8, Infinity
Requires	None (standalone wearable computer)
Predecessor	None
Successor	Kopin Golden-I Infinity
System
Operating System	Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3
Chipset	Texas Instruments OMAP
CPU	TI OMAP dual processor (600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 + 400MHz DSP), up to 1.2GHz in later versions
GPU	3D graphics accelerator
Storage
Storage	Not specified
Memory	512MB RAM
SD Card Slot	No
Display
Display	Kopin qHD microdisplay
Subpixel Layout	Full color TFT
Peak Brightness	Not specified
Resolution	800 × 600
Pixel Density	N/A
Refresh Rate	60Hz
Persistence	N/A
Image
Field of View	~25° equivalent
Horizontal FoV	~25°
Vertical FoV	~19°
Average Pixel Density	N/A
Peak Pixel Density	N/A
Foveated Rendering	No
Optics
Optics	Monocular transmissive TFT
Ocularity	Monocular (left or right eye configurable)
IPD Range	N/A (monocular)
Adjustable Diopter	No (glasses/safety glasses compatible)
Passthrough	Native see-through (monocular display)
Tracking
Tracking	9-axis (3 accelerometers, 3 gyroscopes, magnetometer)
Tracking Frequency	N/A
Base Stations	None
Eye Tracking	No
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	No
Body Tracking	No
Rotational Tracking	Yes
Positional Tracking	No (but GPS for location)
Update Rate	N/A
Tracking Volume	N/A
Play Space	Hands-free computing
Latency	<100ms
Audio
Audio	Integrated speaker
Microphone	Yes (dual noise-canceling)
3.5mm Audio Jack	Yes
Camera	14MP (Gen 3.8) with optional 1080p HD detachable + IR thermal
Connectivity
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB
Ports	USB
Wired Video	No
Wireless Video	Yes (streaming)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 802.11
Bluetooth	Bluetooth
Power	18650 Li-ion battery
Battery Capacity	18650 cell
Battery Life	8+ hours
Charge Time	Not specified
Device
Dimensions	~4.5 oz, foldable pocket size
Weight	~128g (4.5 oz)
Material	Copper-magnesium-titanium alloy, polycarbonate shell
Headstrap	Spring headband with plastic stabilizers
Haptics	No
Color	Black
Sensors	9-axis IMU (4mm cube), GPS, digital compass
Input	Voice commands (Nuance VoCon3200, 38 languages), head gestures
Compliance	Industrial certifications, extreme temperature rated

Property "Operating System" (as page type) with input value "Windows Embedded CE 6.0]] R3" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process. Property "Latency" (as page type) with input value "" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.

The Kopin Golden-I is a pioneering head-mounted wearable computer developed by Kopin Corporation in partnership with Motorola Solutions, initially announced in 2009 and evolving through multiple generations (Gen 2, 3.5, 3.8, Infinity) with developer kits available from 2012 at $2,500. Often considered a predecessor to modern smart glasses, the Golden-I was one of the first commercially-oriented head-mounted computers designed for hands-free operation in industrial environments, featuring a monocular Kopin qHD (800 × 600) microdisplay that appears equivalent to a 15-inch screen at 18 inches, a Texas Instruments OMAP dual processor (600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 + 400MHz DSP, later upgraded to 1.2GHz), 512MB RAM, 9-axis head tracking (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometer), GPS with digital compass, and Nuance speech recognition supporting 38 languages for complete hands-free voice control. The Gen 3.8 version added a 14MP camera with optional 1080p HD and infrared thermal camera capabilities. Weighing just 4.5 ounces (128g) with 8+ hours battery life, the Golden-I was built for industrial durability with a copper-magnesium-titanium alloy frame and polycarbonate shell rated for extreme temperatures, folding to pocket size for portability.

History and Development

Kopin Corporation

Company background:

Founded 1984 in Massachusetts
Microdisplay technology pioneer
Military and industrial focus
Display technology leader

2009 Initial Announcement

Original concept:

Head-mounted computer vision
Motorola partnership
Industrial applications
Hands-free computing

Generation Evolution

Product development:

Gen 2 (2010 announcement)
Gen 3.5 (2012 dev kits)
Gen 3.8 (enhanced camera)
Infinity (smartphone companion)

Industry Pioneer

Historical significance:

Pre-Google Glass
Industrial smart glasses
Voice-first interface
Wearable computing foundation

Design Philosophy

Hands-Free Computing

Core principle:

Complete voice control
No hand interaction needed
Industrial practical
Safety compliance

Industrial First

Target market:

Field service
Manufacturing
Emergency response
Defense/military

Rugged Construction

Durability focus:

Extreme temperature rated
Industrial materials
Drop resistant
Professional grade

Compact Portable

Form factor:

Pocket-foldable
Lightweight (4.5 oz)
All-day wearable
Professional appearance

Display Technology

Kopin qHD Microdisplay

Visual specifications:

Resolution: 800 × 600
Type: Full-color transmissive TFT
Equivalent: 15-inch screen at 18 inches
Kopin proprietary

Monocular Design

Single-eye display:

Configurable (left or right eye)
Peripheral vision clear
Glasses compatible
Safety glasses compatible
Helmet/hard hat compatible

Visual Quality

Display characteristics:

Full color
Clear readability
Information display
Glanceable data

Processing Power

Texas Instruments OMAP

Dual processor:

Primary: 600MHz ARM Cortex-A8
DSP: 400MHz digital signal processor
Gen 3: 1GHz upgrade
Gen 4: 1.2GHz planned

Memory

System specifications:

RAM: 512MB
3D graphics accelerator
Real-time processing
Multi-tasking

Evolution

Performance improvements:

16× more power than predecessor (Gen 3.8)
Half size and weight
Faster processing
Enhanced capabilities

Camera System

14MP Camera (Gen 3.8)

High-resolution imaging:

Resolution: 14 megapixels
Inertially stabilized
Lightweight design
Documentation capability

Optional Cameras

Expansion options:

1080p HD detachable camera
Real-time video streaming
Infrared thermal camera
Night vision capability

Camera Applications

Use cases:

Field documentation
Remote expert sharing
Inspection recording
Thermal imaging

Sensors

9-Axis IMU

Motion sensing:

Package: 4mm cube
3 accelerometers
3 gyroscopes
1 magnetometer

GPS and Compass

Location awareness:

Integrated GPS
Digital compass
Position tracking
Navigation support

Head Tracking

Motion detection:

Orientation sensing
Gesture recognition
Interface navigation
Hands-free control

Voice Control

Nuance Integration

Speech recognition:

VoCon3200 platform
Vocalizer text-to-speech
Hands-free optimized
Natural language

Language Support

International capability:

Languages: 38 supported
Global deployment
Multi-lingual operation
Enterprise ready

Dual Microphones

Audio input:

Noise-canceling array
Industrial environment capable
Clear voice pickup
Command recognition

Physical Design

Ultra-Lightweight

Weight specifications:

Weight: ~128g (4.5 oz)
All-day comfortable
Minimal fatigue
Professional appearance

Materials

Construction:

Copper-magnesium-titanium alloy
Polycarbonate shell
Extreme temperature rated
Durable build

Foldable Design

Portability:

Pocket-sized folded
Spring headband
Compact storage
Travel ready

Mounting Compatibility

Wear options:

Head-mounted band
Safety glasses
Hard hat attachment
Helmet mount

Connectivity

Wireless

Communication options:

Wi-Fi networking
Bluetooth accessories
USB connection
Real-time streaming

Enterprise Integration

Business connectivity:

Corporate networks
Cloud services
Backend systems
Enterprise apps

Battery

Long-Duration Power

Battery specifications:

Type: 18650 Li-ion
Life: 8+ hours
Full shift operation
Field-ready

Industrial Operation

Power reliability:

Extended runtime
Professional deployment
Continuous operation
Reliable power

Operating System

Windows Embedded CE

Platform:

Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3
Enterprise familiar
Application ecosystem
IT manageable

Development Environment

Application support:

Standard development tools
Windows SDK
Enterprise applications
Custom development

Versions

Gen 2

Early version:

2010 announcement
Initial production
Foundation platform
Early adopter

Gen 3.5

Developer release:

$2,500 dev kit
Enhanced processing
Improved features
2012 availability

Gen 3.8

Enhanced version:

14MP camera
Faster, lighter
Half size of HC-1
16× more power

Golden-I Infinity

Smartphone companion:

Smartphone-powered
Lighter headset
~100 organizations piloting
Modern evolution

Enterprise Applications

Field Service

Technician support:

Hands-free documentation
Remote expert access
Procedure display
Equipment data

Manufacturing

Production support:

Assembly guidance
Quality inspection
Training support
Process documentation

Emergency Response

First responder:

Situational awareness
Real-time data
Communication
Thermal imaging

Military/Defense

Tactical use:

Mission data display
Communication
Documentation
Night vision capable

Comparison with Early Smart Glasses

Feature	Golden-I Gen 3.8	Google Glass (2013)	Vuzix M100
Release	2012	2013	2013
Price	$2,500 (dev)	$1,500	$999
Resolution	800×600	640×360	432×240
Processor	TI OMAP 1GHz	OMAP 4430	OMAP 4460
Camera	14MP	5MP	3MP
Weight	128g	36g	75g
Battery	8+ hours	1 day	4 hours
Voice Control	38 languages	English	Limited

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths

Pioneer in wearable computing
38-language voice control (Nuance)
14MP camera + optional thermal
8+ hours battery life
Ultra-lightweight (4.5 oz)
Industrial-grade durability
Pocket-foldable design
9-axis sensor array with GPS

Limitations

Monocular only (800×600)
Windows CE platform (dated)
Limited consumer appeal
High dev kit price ($2,500)
Enterprise-only focus
No spatial AR capability
Discontinued consumer focus

Technical Specifications Summary

Specification	Details
Display	Kopin qHD 800×600 monocular
Equivalent	15" screen at 18"
Processor	TI OMAP (600MHz ARM + 400MHz DSP)
Memory	512MB RAM
Camera	14MP + optional 1080p/IR thermal
Sensors	9-axis IMU, GPS, compass
Voice	Nuance (38 languages)
Battery	18650 Li-ion, 8+ hours
Weight	~128g (4.5 oz)
OS	Windows Embedded CE 6.0
Price	$2,500 (Dev Kit)

References