When a brand new gadget is launched into the tech world, it’s normally bought out earlier than it goes to market. Pre-sales and consumer check information are one of the best indicators of how profitable the expertise might be. When Google introduced its cool eyewear generally known as “Google Glass” in 2012, it was touted as the subsequent biggest wearable expertise. Launched to the general public in 2014, it had misplaced its steam by the top of the next yr. Google Glass was an enormous fail. It was relaunched once more in 2019 and by 2023 it had disappeared virtually totally from the market.
There are quite a lot of the explanation why it failed. Marketed as a luxurious trend merchandise, the value tag was too excessive, they had been very heavy and never extraordinarily snug and there was a serious privateness subject with the mounted digital camera. A number of software program bug fixes and rising security considerations led to their eventual downfall.
If at first you don’t succeed, do you have to do it once more?
Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon appears to suppose so.
In a current interview with CNBC, he introduced that the chip maker can be taking up the problem to develop combined actuality glasses that may hook up with the consumer’s smartphone (eliminating the necessity for the mounted digital camera) in collaboration with Samsung and, you guessed it, Google.
In keeping with Amon, the product might be completely different and will supply new experiences due to fashionable Generative AI. Qualcomm has had some success with Ray-Ban Meta Sensible Glasses working on its Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform.
Nevertheless, some opinions of them are usually not that favorable. “They’ve a glossy wearable design however are actually solely good for listening to music or taking movies,” writes Taylor Hayes on howtogeek.com. Whereas eyewear would possibly sound a bit engaging to a bookworm, the value doesn’t justify the ROI on this case. Listening to music and taking movies may be finished on some other moveable gadget that may be carried in your pocket.
I hate to confess it however, I don’t see any worth in three main expertise firms spending a lot time, cash, and analysis on a tool that to date has confirmed to not be that fashionable and is nothing greater than a high-tech trend assertion. Solely time will inform.
{Hardware}, software program and generative AI goes to create superb issues sooner or later however is the general public able to get behind one other wearable gadget? Individuals appear to choose gadgets that they can be utilized hands-free, and the privateness considerations have probably not been addressed.
I might in all probability leap on the bandwagon if the venture had a greater scope. It could be extra sensible and a greater use of expertise to develop eyewear that assisted with ocular diseases and different disabilities like ADHD. Blue-blocking glasses have been recognized to appease the signs of ADHD, and audible studying applied sciences can be an incredible service for the blind.
It is going to be fascinating to see what the brand new designs and expertise should supply. There was no precise launch date talked about however Amon hinted that the preliminary design stage had already begun.
One factor is for sure, the glasses will must be safer, light-weight and purposeful in the event that they need to succeed this time. It’s fascinating to notice that whereas Ray-Ban Meta good glasses did have a market, they haven’t been an in a single day sensation. It could appear that tech-savvy individuals are being a bit extra reserved this time round.
Will they re-consider wearable expertise in the event that they Generative AI proves to be the reply?
Writing has all the time been her ardour and a voice for individuals who can’t converse. She considers herself lucky to put in writing daily and says her mantra is, “I drink espresso, write, and I learn about folks and expertise.” Her writing is numerous and may be discovered on-line on web sites like LifeHack, You Have a Calling, Medium, TechCrunch and, She Is aware of.
