Google announced the end of its Glass Explorer Program last month. Sony now looks ready to pick up from where Google left off with the announcement today that its own SmartEyeglass Developer Edition SED-E1 which was first unveiled at CES 2015 is now available for pre-order in both the United Kingdom and Germany ahead of its launch in March.
Unlike Google Glass, the Sony SmartEyeglass is binocular a transparent lens eyewear “that enables true augmented reality experiences. Text, symbols and images are superimposed onto your natural field of view” when connected to a compatible smartphone. Sony explains it this way:
SmartEyeglass Developer Edition SED-E1 includes unique holographic waveguide technology, which enables super-thin 3.0 mm augmented reality (AR) lenses with high transparency of 85% and excellent brightness, without any half mirrors that may obstruct the user’s vision. Furthermore, the monochrome display ensures low energy consumption and high luminance (up to 1,000 cd/m2). This enables a binocular display, where text and information is clearly visible under a wide range of lighting conditions.
The Sony SmartEyeglass packs a number of sensors including a CMOS image sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass, brightness sensor, and microphone. It can also use GPS data obtained from the connected smartphone. A separate controller adds a speaker and microphone as well as NFC, the battery and additional controls.
Sony today also released the first official version of the SmartEyeglass SDK to allow developers to begin building apps for its smartglasses. Sony expects that apps could soon provide additional stats during a game, instructions on the factory floor or directions and more.
The Sony SmartEyeglass Developer Edition will launch in March in four countries: the U.S. (US$840), the U.K. (£520), Germany (€670) and Japan (¥100,000). It will also be available for enterprise customers in France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Sweden. There is no word yet on availability in Canada.
Sony is looking to launch a consumer version of SmartEyeglass in 2016.
Source : Sony Developer World