Feb 08, 2023 14:00:00

What is the open source AR device 'Monocle' attached to glasses?

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Monocle '', which uses a palm-sized lens attached to glasses with a clip, is an AR device announced in September 2022 that can zoom the field of view, instantly capture photos and videos, and use open source software. You can also run it and create your own firmware, so it has become a hot topic as an “AR device for hackers by hackers”.

Monocle
https://www.brilliantmonocle.com/

According to the official documentation , Monocle is a small head-up display that can be attached to one side of glasses with a clip and used like a 'monocle', and the weight of the main body is quite light at 15 grams. In addition, it is equipped with '640x400 color OLED display', '5MP camera', 'microphone', 'Bluetooth 5.2', '70mAh built-in battery', 'full-featured MicroPython-based OS', etc.

The main functions of Monocle are that you can zoom the field of view up to 16 times, and you can use 'Instant Replay' that allows you to go back to the last seen video in slow motion.

In addition, it is possible to instantly capture the scenery you are currently seeing as a photo or video and send it to your smartphone via Bluetooth, so you can record without missing a momentary event.

Furthermore, as the biggest feature of Monocle, Monocle's platform is open source, so it is possible to extend it by programming new functions and original firmware by yourself. Since it supports MicroPython, a programming language processing system that is highly compatible with Python3, in addition to being able to add functions programmed independently to the device, it is relatively easy to use a subset of MicroPython that is added regularly. Easy access to different modules.

Monocle can be purchased from the official page, and the price is $ 349 (about 45,800 yen). Apps that work with Monocle can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play .

On Hacker News, Monocle's functions and ease of wearing have become a hot topic, and in particular, the point of 'wearing on one eye' is that it can be used without greatly obstructing normal vision, and it can be used for children with disabilities in one eye. There was also an opinion that I want to do it. In addition, since it is open source software, various functions that would like to be added have been discussed, including opinions such as ``displaying high-priority notifications in the field of view'' and ``accessing the weather forecast'', and ``human Various opinions have been raised, such as the idea that it would be nice to have a name tag floating above the head to help me remember, and the comment that it would be great if we could improve visibility such as visibility in the dark and accessibility for color blindness.