Smart glasses are highly integrated wearable devices that combine micro displays, sensors, and processors. They have evolved significantly from the original Google Glass to advanced models like Microsoft HoloLens 2, which are used for industrial design and maintenance. Consumer products such as Snap Spectacles cater to everyday use, while glasses like the Razer Anzu are designed for sports and health monitoring. As technology advances, smart glasses continue to break new ground.

Smart glasses are more than just a digital upgrade of traditional eyewear; they represent a deep integration of visual experiences and intelligent concepts. As technology advances and the market matures, smart glasses are expected to play an increasingly important role in the intelligent ecosystem.

Key technologies encompass:

- Micro display technology involves the use of displays like OLED or Micro LED to project transparent or translucent images, enabling users to view the real world while receiving virtual information simultaneously.

- Sensor fusion technology integrates built-in sensors like gyroscopes and accelerometers to detect both your head movements and the surrounding environment.

- Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), or mixed reality (MR) technology enables the integration of virtual elements into the real world, offering diverse interaction experiences.

Voice Control & Gesture Recognition

One major limitation of smart glasses is their lack of direct operability, as they lack a keyboard or touchscreen interface. Hence, voice control and gesture recognition significantly enhance their usability.

Smart glasses typically feature voice control capabilities, allowing users to execute various tasks such as sending text messages, searching for information, and setting reminders using voice commands.

Gesture recognition in smart glasses is currently limited to basic actions like tapping and waving. However, Google recently filed a patent for wrist smart device technology designed to complement AR glasses. This innovative technology promises to deliver users an unprecedented gesture interaction experience. This invention allows users to interact with AR glasses more intuitively and naturally via wrist devices, enhancing the immersive AR experience.

Built-in camera

For instance, Meta's inaugural AI glasses, Ray-Ban Meta, feature a 12-megapixel camera capable of capturing photos at 3024x4032 resolution and recording videos at 1440x1920@30fps. Additionally, they are outfitted with two speakers and five microphones.

Navigation guidance

Certain smart glasses offer navigation capabilities, enabling real-time map navigation and route guidance. AR features allow users to overlay virtual information onto the real world, enhancing their perception.

Translation in real time

Smart glasses integrating AI and VR feature microphones, cameras, and transparent displays. A standout feature is their ability to translate languages in real-time, converting speech into text and displaying it before the wearer. Upon wearing them, users can view the translation of their conversation partner in real-time, akin to subtitles.

According to The Information, Meta, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and other tech giants are gearing up to integrate AI large models into wearable devices like smart glasses, equipped with cameras. They posit that hardware such as smart glasses will serve as ideal platforms for AI large models, given their ability to process various forms of information, including sound, images, and videos.