Sony Releases Google Glass Alternative... Developer Edition On Sale Now
Sony SmartEyeglass Developer Edition On Sale Now
By Stephanie Mlot
February 17, 2015 11:04am EST
Sony SmartEyeglass Developer Edition is on sale in the
U.K. and Germany, and will soon go on sale in 10 other countries.
Sony SmartEyeglass Developer Edition
Where Google failed, Sony hopes to succeed. Its
SmartEyeglass Developer Edition eyewear is available now for pre-order in the
U.K. and Germany.
The SED-E1 transparent-lens headset will go on sale in
eight more countries—Japan, the U.S., France, Italy, Spain, Belgium,
Netherlands, Sweden—next month. Developers can access the official version of
the SmartEyeglass SDK today.
Using holographic wavelength technology, Sony's
futuristic glasses connect with compatible smartphones to superimpose
information onto the wearer's field of view—"without any half mirrors that
may obstruct the user's vision," the company boasted.
It also comes with a built-in 3-megapixel CMOS image
sensor, accelerometer, gyro, electronic compass, and brightness sensor, behind
the 3-millimeter lenses. Together with GPS location data from the attached
phone, the headset provides information tailored for the current task or scenario.
A separate (but wired) circular controller that clips
onto your jacket or shirt collar houses the battery, speaker, microphone, NFC,
and touch sensor.
Early application concepts include a step-by-step guide
on how to assemble an engine, scrolling in front of the mechanic's eyes as they
work. Sony also suggested an app to share player stats while watching a sports
game, or to display sightseeing information while visiting a tourist
attraction.
Early developers will have access to a handful of
SmartEyeglass apps—available in the Google Play store—which enable access to
Twitter, Facebook, Gmail, RSS, calendar, and voice control.
The developer edition will cost $840 in the U.S., £520 in
the U.K., €670 across Europe, and ¥100,000 in Japan.
Sony hopes to release its SmartEyeglass headset to
consumers sometime next year.
In December, Sony released details of a clip-on wearable
that turns your glasses into a smart device. The attachable Single-Lens Display
Module, dubbed "SmartEyeglass Attach," promised a Google Glass-like
control board, OLED microdisplay, and optical unit.
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