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Vuzix augmented reality Smart Glasses prototype hands-on (video)
Remember those wicked holographic augmented reality glasses that DARPA was so hot to build? They're almost here. Hiding out at Vuzix's CES booth we found a functional prototype for its Smart Glasses industrial class monocular display -- a special lens attached to a proprietary display driver that produces a bright, 1.4mm holographic picture for one of your peepers. Vuzix told us the lenses were the fruit of a DARPA project, and could allow soldiers involved in air-to-surface operations to track jets, check their ordinance and mark targets for destruction. The military / industrial monocle will go on sale in Q3 of 2012 for somewhere between $2500-3000. Want to look a little more, well, normal while you're augmenting your reality? You're covered -- or at least you will be in 2013. Not only will Vuzix's consumer facing smart glasses offer you the same holographic heads-up technology that'll power its military bound brother, it'll cost you a bundle less, too: between $350-600. The unit we saw wasn't final, but were told the final unit will be able to accept connections over HDMI, and may even be capable of displaying stereoscopic 3D content -- you know, in case the real world wasn't real enough. Hopefully, we'll be able to tell you those fit next year. Ready to see how you'll be gussying up reality in the future? Hit the break for our hands-on video coverage.
Vuzix designs Smart Glasses to look like sunshades, tout connected transparent display
Vuzix has announced plans to develop a stylish head-mounted display solution in the form of Smart Glasses, through a licensing partnership with Nokia. The yet-unnamed product would integrate a bright, high-contrast display with a pair of seemingly ordinary-looking sunglasses -- sounds like a perfect companion to the ZionEyez in-glasses camera prototype we saw last month. In Vuzix's words: This amazing new technology starts with a compact display engine capable of hi contrast and brightness for outdoor use. The output is then relayed into a 1.4 mm thick plastic waveguide lens with input and output hologram structures on the surface which squeezes the light down the waveguide and then two dimensionally expands the image back into the user's eye, creating an image that is then mixed into the real world. Naturally, the company envisions its Smart Glasses solution as a web-connected device, letting you watch videos or browse the internet while still being able to see-and-avoid pedestrians as you walk on the sidewalk or obstacles while behind the wheel -- try doing that with a Kindle or smartphone (better yet, please don't). Vuzix expects its Smart Glasses solution to start appearing as early as this summer, but we'll be getting an early look next week at CES.
Ask Engadget: best wraparound video eyewear solution?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Tywannabe, who can't live another day without a set of 3D video glasses to attach to his phone. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I have been searching for a set of good video glasses for a while, but haven't been able to find a perfect set. I definitely need connections for the Galaxy S II and iOS devices. They also have to have their own battery. Screen size and resolution aren't very important, but it would be nice to have at least 480p. This may be impossible, but I'm desperate. Thanks a lot!" Anyone pleased with their Vuzix set? Anyone have any alternatives? Help a fellow gentleman out in comments below, won't you?
Vuzix Tac-Eye LT offers a clip on HUD for rugged, wannabe cyborgs
Does a pair of screens placed over your eyes seem like overkill? Well, AR enthusiasts, Vuzix has heard your calls and has introduced the Tac-Eye LT -- a transparent monocular AMOLED display that only puts info in front of one of your peepers. Unlike some of the company's other head-mounted displays, the Tac-Eye isn't aimed at personal entertainment. Instead, Vuzix envisions it being used as a HUD in rugged environments, offering alerts, data and video feeds. The unit comes mounted on a pair of Oakley specs (of course) but it can easily be clipped to a pair of standard safety glasses. The 800 x 600 see-through display comes in three different configurations: VGA-in, video-in or both. The Tac-Eye LT is available throughout Europe now... at least according to the PR. We couldn't find them for sale anywhere, nor could we track down pricing info. Head on after the break for the full release and a few more technical details.
Vuzix Wrap 1200VR video eyewear does 3D with head-tracking for $600, now available
If you scored yourself Vuzix's Wrap 1200 side-by-side 3D video eyewear last month, you may want to know the company's VR variant is now available for $600 (about 100 bones more). With the Wrap 1200VR, you'll again be viewing a simulated 75-inch, 3D (or 2D, if you'd prefer) 16:9 display at ten feet away. The shades feature a single 852 x 480 monitor per eye and support input resolutions of up to 1280 x 720. The VR bit comes from the included Wrap Tracker 6TC with compass, which enables head-tracking with three degrees of freedom. Better yet, its coupled drift control should maintain silky smooth visuals when you're tilting your noggin' to scope out the on-screen action. Out of box, these specs are said to play nice with most Windows machine's graphics cards and VGA connections, but adapters are required to rock them with your PS3 or Xbox 360. If your eyes are already tearing up with joy, you'll find full details in the PR just past the break. Update: We initially reported the that the Vuzix Wrap 1200VR outputs video in simulated 720p, when it actually supports input resolutions up to 1280 x 720 -- both WVGA monitors have a resolution of 852 x 480. We've updated this post accordingly.
Vuzix Wrap 1200 brings 3D to the glasses for $500
3D glasses are nothing new -- we've been tossing on RealD specs at the theater for at least a couple of years. But in typical Vuzix fashion, the Wrap 1200 brings a pair of displays directly to the glasses, simulating a 75-inch 3D screen. Tiny 852 x 480-pixel monitors display native 16:9 content on the three-ounce specs, and iPhone and component video cables are included in the box, letting you plug in to a variety of content (there's no HDMI support, however). The display supports side-by-side and anaglyph 3D, and you can also revert back to 2D content if things don't pan out as expected. The Vuzix Wrap 1200 is rated at three hours of playback with the pair of included rechargeable AA batts, or you can substitute lithium ion batteries for up to seven hours of use. Jump past the break for the full rundown from Vuzix, or hit up the source link to grab your own pair for $500. Update: Originally, we reported that the Vuzix Wrap 1200 only supports anaglyph 3D, when it is in fact capable of side-by-side display as well. The post has been updated to reflect this correction.
Vuzix Star 1200 headset augments your reality, not your bank account
Be honest, you've been waiting for an affordable augmented reality headset ever since Schwarzenegger rocked the robot vision Terminator 2. And while $5,000 still seems like a lot for consumers to pay for a pair of glasses that let you see stuff that's not actually there, it's certainly cheaper than the sort of military-grade options currently available. Vuzix's Star 1200 feature motion sensors and a camera that track reality in order to augment it via 3D computer generated graphics. The headset is available for pre-order now and will start shipping in August, so you can finally get down to hunting and destroying all of the people who make fun of you for wearing funny looking glasses. [Thanks, Matthew]
DARPA's next-gen wearable display: augmented-reality, holographic sunglasses
The US military seems to adore the idea of wearable displays, hence its continued efforts to make them a reality. We know it seems like just yesterday that DARPA tapped Lockheed Martin to build low-power, lightweight augmented-reality eyewear, and it was actually four full years ago when the wild and wonderous dream was to craft HMDs as small and light as "high-fashion sunglasses." Well, that dream lives on, this time with holograms: the lenscrafters at Vuzix just received a cool million to develop goggles that holographically overlay battlefield data on the wearer's vision. It all sounds very Dead Space (or, you know, like a Top Secret version of Recon-Zeal's Transcend goggles), promising realtime analysis of anything within sight. The company believes the finished product will be no more than 3mm thick and completely transparent when turned off. If all goes well, expect this to trickle down to consumers in short order; soon you'll have full "situational awareness" -- including relationship status -- of that mysterious stranger you've been eyeballing from across the room.
Kinect paired with Vuzix VR920 shades, creates zany virtual reality game (video)
It was only a matter of time before Microsoft's continually-hacked Kinect became embroiled in a VR simulation of some sort, and while we're not riding light cycles quite yet, enterprising developer Nao_u has managed to put himself in the shoes (and short skirt) of a Japanese virtual pop icon. Mapping his every move onto the virtual skeleton of Vocaloid's Miku Hatsune probably won't impress you much at this stage of the game, but there's the little matter of what Nao_u did next: he hooked up a pair of Vuzix VR920 LCD glasses to see through the digital diva's eyes, too. Find the terribly cutesy video after the break, and fast-forward to 4:30 to watch Nao attempt to walk a narrow beam set atop a virtual skyscraper.
Vuzix Wrap 920AR dev bundle available 'nowish' with clear AR glasses 18 months away
When we got our hands on the Vuzix Wrap 920AR at CES we saw a promising piece of gear without too many practical applications. And where do things stand, nearly a year later? Available now (aside from a "30 to 45 day delay" on all orders) the headset is strictly developers only. According to Pocket-lint, the company is only eighteen months away from clear AR glasses with heads-up displays -- and, believe us, we'd love to see that -- but in the meantime, your hard earned $2,000 will get you the glasses, a Vuzix VR Manager license, and access to the Vuzix SDK. So, who's going to be the first to pitch us a system for Augmented Reality comment moderation? We'd love to some new and novel ways to "downrank" a few of our favorite commenters, if you get our drift.
Vuzix Wrap Fashion Shades, now in four colors
Let's just say that things are really starting to heat up in the video eyewear arena. Vuzix, makers of the well-known Wrap line of video display eyewear, have busted out snap on colors -- red, blue, amber, and mirror - to make the Wraps you already have even more awesome looking. You can grab them up for $19.99 each or get the whole set for $49.95. Full press release is below.
Vuzix Wrap 920AR face-on: reality just got weird
CES 2010 is awash in a sea of ridiculous 3D glasses, but that's nothing compared to the insanity of the Vuzix 920AR, an $800 set of augmented reality specs with cameras built into the lenses. Sadly, the 1504 x 480 display just isn't very impressive: we certainly saw a stereo 3D image, but it was grainy, dark, and generally unusable for anything apart from the augmented reality maze game on demo. Walking down the street with these things on your face would be incredibly dangerous, as far as we can tell. That said, the maze game did work seamlessly -- you hold a pre-printed cardboard sheet in front of you, and in the glasses you see a 3D maze with a ball and puzzle elements that respond to "gravity." That's it, though -- there's no other software involved here, and unless you're deep into developing augmented reality applications or extremely interested in looking like a killer robot from the planet Nerdotron, your $800 is better spent elsewhere. Check a Joanna Stern Video Event after the break. %Gallery-82519%
Vuzix Wrap 920AR augmented reality video eyewear: can you afford to look like this?
CES 2010 might go down in history as the show of silly glasses, and Vuzix isn't going to cede any ground to 3D: it's launching a new augmented reality headset called the Wrap 920AR, which features a built-in stereoscopic camera that allows reality and computer-generated imagery to blend in front of your eyes. To be clear, that means you'll actually be looking at reality on a 1,504 x 480 screen while you wear these glasses, but what's one layer of virtualized abstraction between friends who don't mock each other for wearing ridiculous $800 video glasses?
Vuzix Wrap 310 video eyewear ships out to virtual big-screen lovers
Vuzix's $249.95 Wrap 310 is probably the least hideous / heinous of the video eyewear options on the market today, and while it's still take a few bottles of Jack to get us to rock these with a smile, those who are just high on life can now make a set their own. In case you're forgotten, these things provide a virtual 55-inch screen in front of your eyes, and there's support for iPod / iPhone connections as well as basic sources such as DVD players and the like. And hey, there's also the possibility that these could be used in augmented reality applications in the future, so feel free to considering this some sort of futuristic investment. Just like those Y2K preparedness tapes you bought in '99.
Vuzix Wrap 310 video eyewear actually isn't the ugliest thing of all time
Could it be? Could it really be? Has Vuzix actually deployed a video eyewear solution that isn't completely unsightly in every imaginable way? Our eyes may be deceiving us, but we're going with "yes, amazingly" for the time being. Unlike the company's iWear line -- which looks pretty much exactly like the specs worn by Geordi La Forge -- the unpriced Wrap 310 resembles a set of sunglasses. Now, these aren't apt to be mistaken for Aviators or those patented Kayne joints, but at least you'd look halfway civilized if caught in public with these on your face. Packing a pair of video displays and promising a virtual 55-inch image, these get juiced by just two AA cells and can play nice with pretty much any video source, iPod and iPhone included. There's also an expansion port that'll give it VGA / component outputs in the near future, and if you subscribe to science fiction, it could also be used to read minds in around a score.%Gallery-73139%
New cable brings iPhone, 3D support to Vuzix eyewear
We know your pain, Vuzix users. You hop on the subway just trying to enjoy a little in-your-face action before the workday begins, and within minutes the accusations and stereotypes start flying. "Look, it's Geordi La Forge!" "LeVar Burton, what's good?!" "Can I try my Zune on that?" Depressing, really. Unfortunately for you, Vuzix's latest cable will not make any of that any more sufferable, though it will enable you to use your existing eyewear with Apple's iPhone and enjoy the spoils of side-by-side, interlaced and anaglyph 3D content. Said cable will be bundled in with the company's iWear AV230XL, though existing customers will definitely want to snag the standalone version for $39.95. The full release is after the break.
Vuzix dips toes in augmented reality, makes video eyewear cool again
Nintendo ain't the only company making waves at the Game Developers Conference this year -- oh no, we've also got Vuzix gettin' down and dirty with a brand new addition to its video eyewear segment. Said outfit has teamed up with metaio in order to showcase a new Augmented Reality Accessory Kit for the VR920 head-mounted display. The bundle will include the CamAR -- a clip-on USB camera that is designed to accurately track objects and the user's position in three-dimensional space -- along with the PhasAR wireless augmented reality input controller. When these are used in unison, users are able to simultaneously see what's going on in the Matrix and in the display. For instance, imagine reading a book that's tied into a program on the VR920; as you read along, images can pop up and complement the text. Far out, right? The full release is after the break, and we've been told that the attachment should sell for around $100 on top of the $399 VR920 when it ships around mid-Summer.
Engadget's recession antidote: win a Vuzix AV310!
This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we've got a Vuzix AV310 on offer -- for real! You know you want to look cool in one of the bad boys! Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Check after the break for some photos of the prize!Special thanks to Vuzix for providing the gear!The rules: Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one Vuzix AV 310. Approximate value is $250. If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Entries can be submitted until Wednesday, March 11th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck! Full rules can be found here.
Vuzix's $249.95 iWear AV310 Widescreen eyewear now shipping globally
It's taken awhile for Vuzix's iWear AV310 Widescreen to escape the show floor and begin shipping en masse, but those looking for a little on-the-go video can finally strap a set on after handing over $249.95. Reportedly, these things throw up a virtual 52-foot screen viewed from 9-feet (we take it that means "big"), and there's independent +2 to -5 diopter focus levels on each side in order to keep things from blurring out on you. You can also expect upwards of five hours from a single AA battery, and given the adjustable, hypoallergenic nose piece and the "comfort fit" earbuds, we'd say you just might be able to survive 5.5 (give or take) straight episodes of 24. If you're curious as to where to find a pair, head to Brookstone, SkyMall, MicroCenter, Hammacher Schlemmer or Vuzix.com. Full release is after the break.%Gallery-45372%
Vuzix to unveil new, less cool-looking HMD at CES
Looks like we'll all get our first good look at Vuzix's newest head-mounted display -- the Wrap 920AV -- at CES in a few days. They're apparently very similar to the company's previous offering, though they boast a totally fresh appearance. Vuzix promises that the optics have been improved and will offer a better viewing experience, but we don't have any other specifics about the device yet. We'll definitely check them out in Vegas, but we have to say: the Geordi La Forge look was way better than the new wrap-shades, guys.