Difference between revisions of "Spectacles"

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== Public & Media Impact and Presentation ==
 
== Public & Media Impact and Presentation ==
  
 
+
Since their very announcement, Snap's Spectacles release had been enthusiastically awaited, and after finally becoming available, they have received unequivocally positive reviews.
 
 
  
 
== Public Policy ==
 
== Public Policy ==

Revision as of 08:53, 23 June 2017

Spectacles
Spectacles main.jpg
Category Smartglasses
Developer Snap, Inc. [1]
Announced September 23, 2016
Released Developers: N/A
Consumers: November 10, 2016
Price 130 USD
Operating system iOS, Android
Display N/A
Resolution 1088x1088 (HD)
Field of view 115115 °
degrees
Weight g
Controls

button, mobile app

Data available Limited
Risk factor
Not standalone
https://www.spectacles.com/

Spectacles are pair of smartglasses developed by Snap, Inc. (formerly Snapchat, Inc.). Unlike other smartglasses, such as Google Glass, Microsoft HoloLens, ODG Smart Glasses etc., however, Spectacles have only one and single purpose: they function exclusively as a supportive device for the other Snap, Inc.'s product, the Snapchat, an image messaging and multimedia mobile application. They are basically a pair of sunglasses connectable with the user's Snapchat account and equipped with a built-in camera capable of capturing 10-second short video clips that can be then shared via the Snapchat app.

Since they require the mobile app to fully serve their purpose, they are not standalone and need to be connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to a smartphone running the Snapchat app. However, they do not require an immediate connection to the user's Snapchat account when recording the videos. The Spectacles are capable of storing the recorded video clips offline, and the user can view and share them via the app later.

Spectacles were announced on 23 September 2016 during Snap, Inc.'s rebrand from Snapchat, Inc., and were released shortly after on 10 November 2016. They had been originally distributed exclusively in the United States of America via Snap, Inc.'s pop-up vending machines, called Snapbots, for $129.99. On 20 February 2017, they became available for purchase online via Snap, Inc.'s official website for the same price, shipping also to the United Kingdom (for £129.99) and most (although not all) other European countries (for €149.99).


https://www.engadget.com/2016/12/01/prescription-lenses-for-snapchat-spectacles-start-at-99/

https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/01/snapchat-spectacles-oculus-touch-and-product-hunt-listen-to-tcbc-10-with-fitz-tepper/

https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/01/you-can-now-wear-spectacles-indoors-with-rochester-opticals-lenses/

http://www.businessinsider.com/first-look-snapchat-new-spectacles-2016-11

https://www.wired.com/video/2016/11/snap-s-spectacles-are-the-first-camera-we-actually-want-to-wear/

http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/2/14491470/snapchat-spectacles-wider-release-snap-inc

http://www.pcmag.com/article/350013/snapchat-spectacles-everything-you-need-to-know

https://www.cnet.com/products/snapchat-spectacles/preview/

https://www.cnet.com/products/snapchat-spectacles/review/

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/snap-spectacles

http://www.androidauthority.com/snapchat-spectacles-review-735363/

https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/24/13042640/snapchat-spectacles-how-to-use

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2016/11/11/snapchat-spectacles-video-sketchy-but-really-so-what/93652920/

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/138956-snap-spectacles-what-are-they-how-do-they-work-and-where-can-you-buy-them

https://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/snapchat-spectacles-guide/

http://www.businessinsider.com/snapchat-spectacles-review-2017-5

https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/01/snaps-spectacles-are-now-available-in-europe/

https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/20/buy-spectacles-online/

http://www.wired.co.uk/article/snapchat-spectacles-europe-review

https://www.ft.com/content/d57fdfa0-479a-11e7-8519-9f94ee97d996?mhq5j=e3

https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/21/13671164/snapchat-spectacles-glasses-review-camera-sunglasses

https://www.amazon.com/SnapChat-Spectacles-Black/dp/B00K3WUHYY

https://www.amazon.com/SnapChat-4-01368E-12-Spectacles-Black/dp/B01N2J83YY/


Main characteristics

Snap's Spectacles are a one-size-fits-most stylish-looking sunglasses with a built-in camera on their top-right side connectable via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to the Snapchat mobile app. Their top-left side of is equipped with a recording button and a circle of LED lights indicating that the device is connected to the app and/or recording, and also holds a battery, as well as a magnetic contact for recharging. There is also a red light situated on the inner left side of the glasses that lights up when the battery is low. Recharging is provided by the Spectacles' yellow case, which is able to fully charge the device up to four times before it itself needs to be recharged. According to the official information provided by Snap, the glasses are capable of capturing 100 Snaps (i.e. the 10-second short video clips) per one full charge. However, as reported by Matt Swider of TechRadar, "transferring video via Wi-Fi reduced that total by more than half", so it is "best to capture what you see in a single take and move on".[2] The full recharging of Spectacles takes about 90 minutes, and due to the placement of the recharging contact its is impossible to wear them and recharge them at the same time.

The camera has 115 degrees field of view, and is able to record Snaps either in a normal 704x704 resolution at the 29,97 frame rate, or in HD 1088x1088 resolution at the 59,97 frame rate.[3] Video clips are captured in a circular shape, the idea being that it mimics the human eye. This also means, however, that captured Snaps are best viewed through the Snapchat app. Exporting clips can be done rather easily, but they either result in a full circle video that has ugly white borders, or give a cut-off view flanked by black borders. As concluded by Matt Swider of TechRadar, "Spectacles really are meant for Snapchat".[4]

Spectacles are significantly different from all other available smartglasses design-wise. While the developers of the more sophisticated and elaborated smartglasses had to prioritize their function at the cost of their looks, the limited and simple function of the Spectacles allowed their developers to put more focus on their design. Thus, unlike other geeky-looking smartglasses, the Spectacles do not markedly differ from ordinary sunglasses, with the exception of the two yellow circles on their sides framing the camera and the LED lights. Otherwise, they resemble regular trendy shades with round lenses inside of a plastic frame, and they even come in three available colors: coral, teal, or black.

Spectacles' lenses offer basic UV protection, to block harmful sun rays as well as impact protection to minimize damage from shallow drops. Unlike other smartglasses, however, the default lenses can be swapped with the help of a professional ABO-certified optician. Thus, the user can swap the default dark lenses with standard ones for a more comfortable use of the Spectacles indoors or generally in situations where wearing sunglasses might look awkward. Moreover, since Spectacles cannot be worn together with ordinary glasses, the original lenses can be even swapped with prescription lenses. There are very few opticians offering this service, however, due to the specific shape of the Spectacles' lenses. The only official optical service for Spectacles reported so far is Rochester Optical, offering normal lenses for $99, high-index lenses for $149, and polarized or photochromic lenses for $200.[5][6]

Purpose

Spectacles are smartglasses developed by Snap, Inc. that serve exclusively as an add-on for the Snapchat mobile app. They are simply a pair of sunglasses with a built-in camera that allows the user to connect with his or her Snapchat account, capture 10-second short video clips, and share them via the app.

Company & People

Spectacles are developed by Snap, Inc. based in Venice, Los Angeles, California. The company was originally named Snapchat, Inc. upon its inception (September 16, 2011), but it was rebranded on September 24, 2016 as Snap, Inc. in order to include the Spectacles product under a single company (the other product being the Snapchat mobile app).[7]

  • Michael Lynton - chairman of Snap, Inc.
  • Evan Spiegel - co-founder and CEO of Snap, Inc.
  • Bobby Murphy - co-founder and CTO of Snap, Inc.

Important Dates

23 September 2016 - Spectacles were announced during Snap, Inc.'s rebrand from Snapchat, Inc.

10 November 2016 - Spectacles were released and made available for purchase exclusively in the USA via Snap, Inc.'s pop-up vending machines, Snapbots

20 February 2017 - Spectacles became available for purchase online via Snap, Inc's official website

Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment

Since Snap's Spectacles come with a single purpose of capturing short video clips to be subsequently shared via Snapchat, they can hardly serve as any kind of enhancement/therapy/treatment. They simply improve the Snapchat user's experience. The Spectacles' design as an "always ready" device capable of immediately capturing short video clips "on the go" can be helpful in many circumstances, however, so they can possibly serve more than just entertainment purposes.

Ethical & Health Issues

There are no ethical nor health issues relevant to this specific device.

For more general issues connected with smartglasses, please see the Smartglasses synopsis.

Public & Media Impact and Presentation

Since their very announcement, Snap's Spectacles release had been enthusiastically awaited, and after finally becoming available, they have received unequivocally positive reviews.

Public Policy

There is no public policy that considers this device specifically.

For more information about policies related to smartglasses, please see the Smartglasses synopsis.

Related Technologies, Projects or Scientific Research

References

  1. Snap, Inc. [online]. Available online at: https://www.snap.com/ (Retrieved Jun 19, 2017)
  2. SWIDER, Matt. Snapchat Spectacles review. TechRadar [online]. 2017, Jun 2. Available online at: http://www.techradar.com/reviews/snap-spectacles (Retrieved 2017, Jun 20)
  3. POULSEN, Anders. What is resolution and frame rate for Snapchat's spectacles? Quora [online]. 2017, Feb 14. Available online at: https://www.quora.com/What-is-resolution-and-frame-rate-for-Snapchats-spectacles (Retrieved 2017, Jun 20)
  4. SWIDER, Matt. Snapchat Spectacles review. TechRadar [online]. 2017, Jun 2. Available online at: http://www.techradar.com/reviews/snap-spectacles (Retrieved 2017, Jun 20)
  5. MANNES, John. You can now wear Spectacles indoors with Rochester Optical’s lenses. TechCrunch [online]. 2016, Dec 1. Available online at: https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/01/you-can-now-wear-spectacles-indoors-with-rochester-opticals-lenses/ (Received 2017, Jun 23)
  6. SEPPALA, Timothy J. Prescription lenses for Snapchat Spectacles start at $99 (update). Engadget [online]. 2016, Dec 1. Available online at: https://www.engadget.com/2016/12/01/prescription-lenses-for-snapchat-spectacles-start-at-99/ (Received 2017, Jun 23)
  7. Snap Inc. Wikipedia [online]. 2017, Jun 1. Available online at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snap_Inc. (Retrieved Jun 20, 2017)