What are the expectations and challenges that you saw when you actually used the AR-compatible smart sunglasses 'Spectacles' developed by Snapchat?



In May 2021,

Snap , the operator of the photo-sharing social app Snapchat , announced the 4th generation Spectacles , the first sunglasses in the series with AR-compatible cameras. The Verge, an IT news site, summarizes the issues and expectations that have emerged after actually using these Spectacles.

Snap AR Spectacles hands-on: an ambitious, impractical start --The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/22819963/snap-ar-spectacles-glasses-hands-on-pictures-design-features

The following article summarizes what kind of AR compatible sunglasses the 4th generation Spectacles announced by Snap are.

Snapchat developer announces AR-compatible smart glasses 'Spectacles'-GIGAZINE



The 4th generation Spectacles have a frame with thin, sharp edges and an overall angular design, with The Verge commenting, 'It feels like Tesla's Cybertruck aesthetic.' In addition, a sturdy case with a magnet is attached, and this case can also be used as a charging stand.



The vines of sunglasses are highly flexible, so they can be bent sharply, and the fit is light. It is possible to wear it over glasses, but it seems that prescription lenses are also available for the 4th generation Spectacles. In addition, it is equipped with a stereo speaker, a USB Type-C port for charging, and two cameras for video recording and road surface detection, and is also compatible with Wi-Fi.



In addition, Qualcomm's world's first AR / VR dedicated SoC 'Snapdragon XR1' is adopted for the 4th generation Spectacles, and a dual waveguide display is installed in the lens part, and sunlight with a maximum brightness of 2000 nits. The AR content was clearly visible even underneath.

The Verge has released a video of actually playing an AR game with 4th generation Spectacles in the garden at home.




However, the battery capacity of the 4th generation Spectacles is severely limited, and the continuous use time is only 30 minutes in order to protect the lightweight feeling as sunglasses while realizing high functionality. Another drawback is that AR lenses are small, about half the lens area of sunglasses, The Verge said.



The accuracy of hand tracking that can be operated with hand gestures is not so high, and The Verge said, 'The 4th generation Spectacles are like the proof of concept that we have seen in other AR headsets for many years, and they are actually sold. But it wasn't something I thought I would buy, 'but on the other hand, I also rate it as the highest quality AR-compatible smart glass I have ever experienced.

And The Verge also notes that Snap is updating its firmware. For example, even if the AR program is running, it has a function to automatically turn off the display if it is not active. There will also be a feature called 'Custom Landmarkers' that will mark up local landmarks and show them to other Spectacles users, and updates will continue to improve continuous usage time and user experience. There is enough sex.

In addition, Snap has lent out 4th generation Spectacles to AR creators, and it is said that development of compatible content has already begun. For example, it is possible to synchronize Spectacles that share a Wi-Fi network, and in fact Snap AR creator Aidan Wolf has developed a game that shoots energy balls using the capture button on the side of the frame. is. However, according to The Verge, they have tried Spectacles synchronization many times, and the pairing system still has challenges.



The Verge said, 'If the performance of software and future hardware improves, creators will surely develop interesting content. I saw some initial concepts published by developers on the Internet, but exercise The games, utilities such as seeing information about the city you're staying in while traveling, and AR food menus were all fascinating, 'he said, hoping for the maturity of the development community.

in Hardware, Posted by log1i_yk