Google Glass may not have been the revolutionary piece of tech the world latched on to as though it were the next iPhone, but it can’t be denied that we’re seeing a lot more companies trying out new things with face computers as a result. Whether it’s a continued push into immersive tech like Oculus Rift, or further attempts to encourage users to wear a computer on their faces at all times, wearable tech is an exciting space right now.
Sony has jumped back into the ring with a new single lens display module that they claim is compact and lightweight, and while it doesn’t look like either of those things are true, there’s a good chance the new design will make it easier for anyone to just pick it up and use it.
The tech seems to be aimed at everything from regular reading glasses to your average sunglasses, with a wraparound component that connects the display and the battery. The display being used here is a custom OLED unit made by Sony, which they claim will be both highly visible and low power.
The weight balance will make it less awkward feeling on your head, but the current design places a pair of bright white fins sticking out of the sides of your head. Since everything driving this face computer is roughly equivalent to what you’d find in your average smartwatch, there’s a reasonable assumption that the design could be shrunk down before it becomes a real consumer device.
While this new headset doesn’t yet have an official retail name, the internal name for the project is SmartEyeglass Attach, due largely to the grips on either side that mount to your existing frames. It’s not clear if or when we’ll see this as a commercial product, but Sony’s continued efforts in face computers demonstrates that this segment of technology isn’t going away anytime soon.
