Sony SmartEyeglass Attach

From HCE Wiki - The Human Cognitive Enhancement Wiki
Revision as of 15:05, 22 July 2015 by Haustein (talk | contribs) (removed trademark)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Sony’s Single-Lens Display Module known as SmartEyeglass Attach is an augmented reality module that can be easily attached / detached to any kind of glasses and thus used only when needed. The right side display arm consists of optical unit, OLED display, and control board with embedded wireless LAN and Bluetooth, processor, and sensor hub. [1] In its initial stage, the company is targeting the module’s sports applications, but there is a great potential of using the module in work environment and for entertainment.

Main characteristics

The display unit has a 640 x 400 High-Resolution Color OLED display with 10,000:1 or more contrast ratio and RGB with 24 bit colour depth display colour. The embedded sensors include electronic compass, accelerometer, and touch sensor. The device has an ARM Cortex-A7 Processor, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. The approximate weight of the device is 40g (display arm 22g and secondary arm 18g). [1]

The 0.5cm high screen appears in the top right corner and does not obscure the wearer’s frontal field of vision. Although the module prototype presented at CES 2015 did not have a battery included and was connected by power cable instead, the final product will have the 400mAh battery housed in the left arm of the device. The module is waterproof, which makes it convenient for using when sweating or for water sports, although it is not yet clear whether they can work underwater. [2]

With the announced open source software developer kit (SDK), the developer community will be able to create apps and find new uses of the device. [1] [2] Sony’s official website states that the apps can be uploaded directly onto the device and allow it to work independently of other hardware or they can be uploaded onto a smartphone which connects wirelessly to the device. [1] However, one of the reviews says that the module is not independent and needs to be connected to a smartphone. [3] This may be due to the difference in the prototype tested by the reviewer and the final version of the product Sony has in mind.

Purpose

Sports (running, tennis, golf, cycling); navigation; potential use in work setting.

Company & People

Sony Corporation was founded on May 7, 1946. It is a multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Representative Corporate Executive Officers: Kazuo Hirai, President and CEO; Kenichiro Yoshida, EVP and CFO. [4]

Important Dates

  • Release date was announced for 2015.

Ethical Issues

Health Risks

Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment

Public & Media Impact and Presentation

Unlike SmartEyeglass, SmartEyeglass Attach has received highly positive reviews for its lightweight and unobtrusiveness in terms of the module’s design, its mass appeal, and the display’s functionality. The prototype comes with issues to be solved such as integration of the battery, making the module an independent device, developing more apps, and further miniaturisation. Overall, the device seen as a potentially successful consumer product. [2] [3] [5] [6] [7]

Public Policy

Related Technologies, Project or Scientific Research

References