Greg Kumparak@grg / 7:05 AM GMT+8•January 8, 2022

It has somehow, inexplicably, impossibly been almost 10 years since the original Oculus Rift hit Kickstarter.

A decade of development later, VR headsets have gotten better and better — but it’s safe to say, at this point, that VR’s adoption will be … gradual. If we’re all destined to end up with headsets (be they VR, AR or some mix of the two) strapped to our faces, it’ll be less about one-big-thing* and more the result of a thousand tiny steps. A Beat Saber here; a Supernatural there. Incrementally better/lighter/faster headsets. Maybe folks get used to using headsets for training purposes at work. Maybe everyone suddenly agrees on what a metaverse is.

This bit-by-bit advancement held true this year at CES. There was plenty of VR/AR news, none of it earth shattering — but each another step in the progression.

(* the one potential meteor strike, of course, being if Apple does what it loves to do and swoops in late, drops its version and turns the category on its head. That’s been the rumor for a while now.)

Let’s recap the biggest VR/AR bits from the show.

We’ve known for a while now that Sony has been working on a next-gen headset for the PlayStation 5, following up on the PS VR headset it released in 2016. But beyond a kind of light “We’re working on it!” announcement back in early 2021 and some details about the controllers a few months later, they hadn’t shared many specifics.

They’re still keeping some cards close, but they shared a few more details on what’s now officially known as the PS VR2. Such as:

• It’ll have a resolution of 2000×2040 per eye.
• It’ll have a wider field of view than the first-gen headset, at 110 degrees versus 96.
• It’ll have a refresh rate of 90/120 Hz.
• It’ll be able to track the motion of your eyes, potentially allowing you to do stuff like highlight interface elements just by looking at them.
• It’ll support foveated rendering, which is a fancy way of saying it can use processing power more efficiently by prioritizing the rendering of whatever’s in the center of your vision.
• They’re building new controllers for it (pictured below) with finger detection and the PS5’s mind-bending adaptive triggers.
• What’ll the headset look like? Unknown! When will it actually ship? TBD! But with the PS VR being one of the few headsets to even kind of rival the Oculus Meta Quest in terms of ease of use, it’s nice to see Sony continuing to build here.

• HTC Vive wrist tracker

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• What’s the best way to handle input in VR? Most of the popular headsets have settled on some sort of controller in each hand. What if you just make your hand the controller, instead?

  Hand tracking isn’t a brand new idea, of course. Companies have come and gone with hand tracking as their primary focus.

  But HTC’s approach here is a bit different. Instead of relying entirely on cameras, they’re hoping you’ll strap sensor-packed bands to each wrist to help the system track what the cameras can’t see — like when one hand is obscuring the other, or you’ve got your arm back behind you for a golf swing. The company also demonstrated the sensors working while attached to other objects, like ping pong paddles and a NERF gun.

  The company says the sensors should start shipping later this year for $129. One catch? For now, at least, it’ll only work with HTC’s Vive Focus 3 headset.

• Shiftall MeganeX

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• VR headsets have gotten a whole lot sleeker over the years, but they’re still pretty beefy. How much smaller can they really get, though?

  Panasonic subsidiary Shiftall has been working on an “ultra-lightweight, ultra-high-resolution” headset called the Meganex. With speakers built into the frames and a 1.3″ (2560×2560) display for each eye, they end up looking more like a massive pair of steampunk sunglasses than a headset. While designed to be lightweight and foldable, don’t expect to move around too much in these ones — you’ll need to attach them to computer via USB-C to do the heavy graphical lifting.

  Shiftall says these should ship this year for “less than $900.”

• Microsoft partners with Qualcomm for AR chips

  

• Microsoft already uses Qualcomm chips for their HoloLens headsets, but the companies made things a bit more official this week. At Qualcomm’s keynote it was announced that the two will work together to develop chips built specifically for use in AR headsets, with said chips supporting each of their augmented reality development platforms (Microsoft Mesh and Snapdragon Spaces.)

• Nvidia Omniverse

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• It’s not flashy hardware, but it’s potentially important on the software side of things: Nvidia this week opened up Omniverse, its collection of tools for helping 3D content creators work together in real time.

  Writes Frederic Lardinois in his post on the news:

  Omniverse is Nvidia’s platform for allowing creators, designers and engineers to collaboratively build virtual worlds. It’s the company’s platform that brings together design tools and assets from first- and third-party applications into a single hardware and software ecosystem. Until now, Omniverse and the various Nvidia tools that support it were in beta, but at CES today, the company took off the beta label and made Omniverse generally available to creators.

  TCL’s AR Glasses

  This one seems mostly like a concept for now, so … well, don’t fall in love just yet. But TV/phone/air conditioner maker TCL is dabbling in the AR glasses space, pitching something akin to Google Glass in a package that looks much more like a standard pair of specs. “Holographic optical waveguide technology” pushes visuals onto the lens and into your field of view, and their concept video above promises touch-based controls built into the frames.

HEADPHONE technology has improved massively in recent years and it is trend that is set to continue for the foreseeable future.

According to market analysis conducted by Research N Reports, the global earphones and headphones industry was worth more than $10.5 billion in 2018.

Improved audio experiences and a shift towards mobile devices amongst consumers are expected to drive a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 5% between now and 2025.

The emergence of notched smartphones, increased demand for fashionable designs and improvements in noise cancellation are other factors predicted to power the growth.

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period, although the revenue rise is likely to impact countries across the world. Read on as we look at the future of headphone technology.

Human Headphones set to change the game

Seattle-based electronics manufacturer, Human Inc., is set to change the game after launching the first true wireless over-ear smart headphones.

Human Headphones feature a 3-in-1 design that delivers over-the-ear quality, ear-bud convenience and a powerful Bluetooth speaker.

The provide excellent sound quality, capacitive touch controls, on-the-move communication, all-day connectivity and more, making them one of the most innovative products to hit the market.

Ben Willis, Co-Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Human Inc., said: “We founded Human to completely redesign both the form and function of modern headphones.

“Our goal was to create all-in-one headphones that are compatible with every aspect of a user’s day, whether they’re at home, commuting, or in the office.

“We’re excited to launch Human Headphones and bring customers a one-of-a-kind device equipped with the latest technology to deliver a seamless listening experience from morning to night.”

The headphones adapt to the physical structure of the ear rather than going into or over them. Their unique shape creates an audio experience unlike any other wireless product to date.

“No other headphones adapt to your life the way Human Headphones do,” Willis added. “As such, these devices are poised to change how we interact with and use technology throughout our day on a massive scale.

“We could not just adopt the traditional headphone or in-ear designs because in doing so, you also adopt their fundamental legacy issues and limitations, with product comfort being one of the largest problems for both.

“By going back to the drawing board, we were able to both construct an entirely new form that is really driven by the anatomy of all human ears to set a new bar for comfort.

“Additionally, we have opened up device real estate for the technology needed in delivering a very powerful hardware and software platform. Our platform is not only powerful enough for today, but also will support integration of future voice experiences.”

Turtle Beach amplifying its reach

Turtle Beach continues to make some of the best headphones in the industry and their Elite Pro 2 plus SuperAmp bundle has taken things to another level.

The Elite SuperAmp is an innovative audio controller that allows gamers to connect, amplify and control their audio settings via Bluetooth.

Available for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, the device can connect any wired gaming headset to a mobile app-based control centre.

Users can tweak their audio settings to receive powerful and immersive amplified surround sound that moves gaming into a different stratosphere.

When connected to the app, players can instantly control features like Game and Chat Audio Mix, Dynamic Chat Boost, Superhuman Hearing and more.

There are other controls for the SuperAmp’s LED colour and lighting mode, along with streaming-specific audio settings.

“The Elite SuperAmp is perfect for gamers looking to significantly step-up their audio experience while using their existing headset,” said Juergen Stark, CEO, Turtle Beach.

“The SuperAmp’s standard 3.5mm jack is compatible with nearly all wired gaming headsets, while the intuitive mobile app makes it easy to quickly adjust and customise your settings from your phone or tablet before jumping into a game.”

Debussy offers a Prelude to the future

Funded by a Kickstarter campaign, Debussy’s Prelude headphones could be the next big thing to transform a rapidly developing industry.

Prelude was promoted at CES 2019 as the ‘premium, always connected music app streaming headphones engineered for audiophiles and music lovers’ alike.

Featuring a built-in high-fidelity audio chain, Prelude provides true lossless sound that is guaranteed to keep you listening for hours on end.

Debussy’s ‘Adaptive Rendering’ decodes audio and tunes as you switch musical genres, ensuring a perfect listening experience time after time.

The headphones use 4G LTE services to stream your favorite music services and can be paired to any device via Bluetooth or USB-C.

A digital touchscreen enables interactive gesture controls, voice assistant commands, standalone music search and custom album art display.

Prelude features 32GB storage for audio files, meaning users could store more than 10,000 MP3 tracks within the headphones.

Debussy CEO and Founder, Arnaud Perret, has worked with a plethora of star names on the project and believes the Prelude will change headphone technology forever.

“All the manufacturers will copy, for sure,” said Perret. “But all we’re building, with all the artists and branding, that experience we’re creating – that cannot be mimicked.”

The difference between ANC earbuds and ENC earbuds

ANC is active noise reduction:

When you wear earphones, listening to your love music, no matter where you are,subway, plane, office, the whole world quiet, good for yourself!

ANC Noise reduction (Active Noise Control, Active Noise reduction) works by microphones that external environment Noise, then the system transformation as a reverse sound waves to the horn side, eventually human ears hear is: + reverse phase Noise environment Noise, the superposition of two types of Noise so as to realize the Noise reducing of sensory, beneficiary beneficiary is yourself.(ANC Noise Reduction Principle Diagram) Pls see the right picture.

Active noise reduction can be divided into feedforward active noise reduction and feedback active noise reduction according to the location of microphone.

ENC noise reduction:

ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation), which can effectively suppress 90% of the negative Environmental Noise, can reduce the ambient Noise up to 35dB and make it easier for gamers to communicate freely.(ENC noise reduction principle)Pls see above picture.

Through the dual microphone array, the position of the speaker's speech can be accurately calculated, so as to protect the voice of the target in the main direction and remove all kinds of interference noises in the environment.

MARCH 11, 2021

Smart Glasses: use cases, challenges, and future potential

Smart glasses, the eyewear technology that layers information onto a user’s field of view, started off as simple front-end displays. Throughout the years, we saw it progressing to being capable of performing complex computer-powered tasks. Below, we will cover a few highly-rated devices, followed by successful use case applications.

Unlike the 100% immersive virtual reality headsets, smart glasses give users a sense of physical and digital worlds simultaneously, providing a much more natural experience. This experience is achieved through either an Optical Head-Mounted Display (OHMD), Augmented Reality (AR) technology, or through Heads Up Display Glasses (HUD).

Despite its continuous growth and value potential in the enterprise and industrial sectors, these wearable computer glasses still face challenges that delay them from reaching mass-market usage.

Challenges

Facing a defining moment, smart glasses companies currently strive to expand their ground. Even though businesses are finding great workflow solutions through eyewear technology, the public will still have to wait a little longer to reap the benefits of mass accessibility and usage.

Smart glasses producers have realized that to reach mass-market usage, they must first overcome the challenge of balancing functionality and wearability at an affordable cost.

Despite these challenges, there are many smart glasses in circulation today providing great value to various users. Below, we will cover a few highly-rated devices, followed by successful use case applications.

Smart Glasses

Lenovo ThinkReality A6

The ThinkReality A6 AR headset includes inside-out 6DoF tracking to optimize AR experiences and enable industrial versatility. This mobile device is designed to help the workforce use AR applications to receive expert assistance, reduce repair times, decrease errors, streamline complex workflows, improve training quality, and save costs. The device is powered by Wikitude image and object recognition technology.

Epson Moverio BT-300

This lightweight eyewear device contains a front-facing camera, motion tracker, and a display on each lens. The device is suitable for entertainment, manufacturing, medical science, and more.

Supported by Wikitude: optimized Epson SDK

Vuzix M300

These smart glasses provide an agile workplace, with fully connected staff and managers. Industry operations are facilitated by the wide range of apps available, a built-in HD camera, AMLCD display, and more.

Supported by Wikitude: optimized Vuzix SDK

Mira Prism Pro

Since no plugs, computers, or wires are needed, this AR headset offers an alternative way to interact with holographic images. The company has recently raised ﹩10 million funding and decided to focus solely on the industrial use of the headsets. Mira Prism Pro device features external cameras and a see-through interface, allowing hands-free intuitive interactions with the real world.

To be supported by Wikitude: optimized Mira Prisma SDK

HoloLens

The HoloLens is an untethered mixed reality device that is designed to deliver value instantly. Users get the benefits of using cloud and AI services from Microsoft—including reliability, security, and scalability.

Being one of the leading mixed reality headset devices on the market, Wikitude has optimized its augmented reality SDK to support and complement the Microsoft HoloLens 1. 

Use cases

Better than asking what a specific device is capable of, we want to answer a more important question. What are some solutions smart glasses can provide? What is stirring the computerized eyewear market right now?

Video Collaboration

The most prominent application for smart glasses today is most definitely video collaboration. The ability to work together with experts remotely in a “see-what-I-see” system is improving many sectors across the board. Applicable from field service to complex engineering support, remote assistance functionality makes more companies incorporate the smartglasses technology into their workflows.

Complex Manufacturing

Assembly lines are all about speed, productivity, accuracy, compliance, and quality control. These fundamental elements happen to be the exact areas in which smart glasses can deliver. In tasks where every detail counts, automotive and aerospace manufacturers implement eyewear devices to bring real-time solutions to the factory floor.

Logistics and Warehousing

While keeping their hands free and receiving directions and visual cues directly in their field of view, warehouse workers can quickly locate, collect, and deliver items. Smart glasses are substituting handheld devices, scanners, and printed materials. As a result, employees are increasing productivity while decreasing errors and subsequent costs.

Building and Construction

Using smart glasses (or smart hard hats), construction workers experience a safer, more productive hands-free workflow. Structural inspections and errors can also be more accurately held and corrected through remote solutions offered in real-time.

Validation functionality

Augmented reality solutions are invaluable when it comes to maintenance. Smart glasses allow technicians to receive step-by-step visual prompts to help accomplish tasks such as assembling, repair, or maintenance procedures. The head-mounted displays also come in handy for technicians to validate the actions to ensure that every step was correctly executed.

Consumer Level

Even though the consumer market still can grow, we can already see use cases in various areas. For example, AR guides that enhance visitors’ experiences in museums. Theaters rely on eyewear to provide instant subtitling to their guests, while tourists can easily find their way around through projected navigation directions and reviews. Athletes can have access to real-time speed, power, distance, and other indications. Drone pilots conveniently see their drone’s field of view. All these are critical and worthy niches, even if they are still far from mass adoption.

Future potential

The current use of smart glasses is convincing more and more forward-thinking businesses to hop on board. Although the widespread public usage is still pending, smart glasses have found valuable areas to operate, develop, and grow. So helpful that it is not surprising to hear that tech giants like Apple, Facebook, and Samsung are working on their AR-powered smart glasses.

Let’s take a look at the potential this technology has in store for those still not convinced.

Imagine being able to update the knowledge you need directly to an eyewear database. This scenario allows a hands-free workforce with instant access to targeted knowledge directly in their field of view. Such an implementation would ultimately increase quality control, improve maintenance, provide faster and more reliable solutions, save money on management and training, facilitate remote assistance, to name a few.

Until mass-market glasses finally hit the stores, this eyewear technology will continue doing its magic behind the curtains hidden in facilities, warehouses, and construction sites worldwide.

• W/Microphone Open Ear Headphones Directional Audio Listen Music and Calls UV Ray Protection Lenses Sport Design for Smart Phones with Blue Sunglasses Lens
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Product description

Features:

Open Ear Speaker Wireless Bluetooth Sunglasses

Music or Sound Come Out from Both Arms (Earphone Accessory Used when Needed

CSR Bluetooth High-end Chipset

US Safety Lens Standard ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2015 Impact Resistant for Eye and Face Protection Devices

99% UV Protection Polarized Lens and FDA Audited

Sweatproof Circling Sports Bluetooth Sunglasses

Perfect Combination of Bluetooth Headphone and Sunglasses Transmit Distance:30ft

Built-In Bluetooth 4.0 Speakers, Smart Assistant Voice Command, Voice Dialing from Your Phone List

Speak for Directions, Weather or Traffic Updates

Speak to Play Music from Your Favorite App Stations: Pandora , Spotify

Bluetooth Sunglasses Compatible for All Android and IOS

Bluetooth Protocol：Headset;Hands-free A2DP;BLE;SPP

Listening Music for 3 hours by Open Ear Speaker

Charging Time: 2 Hours by USB Cable

Working Temp：-5℃ to 40℃

Storage Temp：-20℃ to 60℃

Specifications:

A: Directional Audio Speakers- Usually used in high end laptops and devices, we use the best technology available to integrate into our frames. The included UV400 lenses can block up to 100% of UVA/UVB rays, but you can change them out for your own prescription lens if need.Bluetooth Sunglasses with Open Ear Technology Make Hands Free

B: Bluetooth Glasses is Compatible for all Version or Brand Name Mobile Phones, can Connect Two Smart Phones and Answer Calls from either one, but It is Not Bone Conduction sunglasses.

C: The bluetooth sunglasses are designed for your enjoyment, safety, and convenience so you can enjoy stress-free outings, whatever your goals are! The audio sunglasses allow you to talk and play music while connected to your Bluetooth enabled iOS/Android or other device. Our glasses with speakers allow you to listen to music and make hands free calls while still being aware of your surroundings. Enjoy a high quality sound with the dual stereo speaker system.

Intelligent Bluetooth Glasses SMART GLASSES Open-ear Audio Glasses Google Intelligent voice assistant

Unisex audio glasses with speakers are suitable for man and women.

Smart Glasses with built-in speakers that produce rich, immersive sound for you, while others hear practically nothing，Open-ear audio allows you to stay aware of your surroundings, while enjoying your music. True wireless earbuds bluetooth 5.0 are equipped with the more stable Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which provides faster paring and universal compatibility.The built-in high-quality microphone of the wireless headphones can provide you with clear call experience.

Provided with advanced microphones and loud speakers, Long press for 2 second to summon voice assistant, you can interact with your phone directly. Set up and hear navigation or make calls on the go.

Smart audio sunglasses bring you secure and comfortable wearing. Different from traditional headphones, there is nothing in or over your ears. It makes Bluetooth glasses suitable for outdoor activities, such as fishing, walking, jogging, skiing, sailing, hunting, golf, cycling, etc. Exquisite packaging makes this bluetooth eyeglasses very suitable as a gift for your family or friends.