This will be technologically a giant step.
The maker of Snapchat, Snap Glasses, has said that its next-generation glasses will be called Specs.
Breaking with the company’s Spectacles branding that it used for previous versions of its wearable devices,the Specs will use Augmented Reality (AR) technology to let people see and interact with digital imagery that’s overlaid over the physical world.
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that enhances the real world with computer-generated perceptual information, such as digital content, sound, and other sensory stimuli.
Hence Snap may replace mobile smartphone.
(Imagine a future where augmented reality is seamlessly integrated into our homes, workplaces, and even outdoor spaces, enhancing our reality in ways we never thought possible.)
Snap’s co-founder and CEO, Evan Spiegel, announced that the company plans to launch a new pair of lightweight augmented reality glasses in 2026.
This is part of the long journey or a quick one to build the next computing platform.
At the Augmented World Exhibition in California, Spiegel described the Specs as “the most advanced personal computer in the world,” offering a combined view of the digital and physical worlds.
This is what is better known in informed circles as a "hands-free alternative to the smartphone".
Snap did not reveal a price or exact launch date for Specs, but the new glasses will be smaller and lighter than their predecessors, the company said. Snap’s most recent Spectacles were released in September 2024 to developers only. That edition of the glasses was available under a leasing model that required users to commit to paying $99 a month for a full year.
The consumer-focused Specs will run on the company’s Snap OS operating systems. Snap said that developers will be able to incorporate Google’s
Gemini AI models into programs they develop for the smart glasses, giving coders more AI options to choose from as they write software for the device. Previously, developers could only use OpenAI’s GPT family of AI models to build AR apps for the smart glasses.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the extraordinary progress in artificial intelligence and augmented reality that is enabling new, human-centered computing experiences,” Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said.
Spiegel remained light on details, including the exact launch timeline and the cost of the Specs, but said the new glasses will be lighter and smaller than previous versions.
The consumer-focused Specs will run on the company’s Snap operating system. Snap said that developers will be able to include Google’s Gemini AI models into programs they develop for the smart glasses. Previously, developers could only use OpenAI’s GPT family of AI models to build AR apps for the smart glasses.
“We believe the time is right for a revolution in computing that naturally integrates our digital experiences with the physical world, and we can’t wait to publicly launch our new Specs next year,” he said.
The Augmented Reality glasses represent nearly a decade of development and billions of financial investment at Snap.
Snap, the company behind the popular Snapchat app, debuted its first smart glasses—dubbed Spectacles—in 2016. These early models featured circular frames and were primarily designed for capturing photos and videos. They lacked any augmented reality capabilities and were similar to the earlier versions of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses.
Snapchat’s Spectacles were fun and stood out for resembling real, fashionable sunglasses more than typical smart glasses. In the following years, Snap released updated versions of Spectacles, but in 2021, the company shifted its focus toward augmented reality. This pivot was driven by a desire to bridge the digital and physical worlds, seamlessly integrating virtual elements with the tangible environment. The AR-focused Spectacles adopted a black, sharp-angled rectangular design and were noticeably thicker than earlier models.
The Santa Monica, California-based company released the fifth-generation Spectacles in September of last year. However, they were intended only for developers who committed to paying $99 a month for a year.
Snap is among several companies developing high-tech smart glasses and is working to get them on people’s faces as quickly as possible, with the ultimate goal of replacing smartphones.
Meta is another major player betting on smart glasses as the foundation of the next-generation computing platform.
Meta already sells its popular Ray-Ban smart glasses equipped with cameras and speakers, but although they currently lack augmented reality capabilities. Last year, the company unveiled Orion—a pair of smart glasses that resemble thick, black reading glasses but feature lenses capable of displaying text messages, video calls, and even YouTube videos within the user’s field of vision.
When Snap launched its first Spectacles glasses in 2016, the $130 wearable was limited to simple features like helping users shoot short videos that they could post to Snapchat. The company updated its glasses with augmented reality displays in 2021 that allowed users to see virtual imagery overlaid by the glasses over what users saw in the real world.
Since then, competition in the world of head-mounted computers has grown.
Apple began selling its $3,500 Vision Pro goggles in February 2024, while Meta
now has a range of cutting-edge products including Quest VR headsets, Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses and the experimental Project Orion AR glasses, which the social media company showed off last fall.
Google, meanwhile, announced its own entry into the space in May when it revealed a $150 million partnership with Warby Parker, which said it will release its own smart glasses sometime after this year.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment