Epson Moverio BT-100: futuristic-looking glasses that run on Android
- — 29 May, 2012 12:15
Augmented reality is a term we've been hearing about for a while now, where online information and the physical world combine to provide an enriched user experience. Epson's Moverio BT-100 glasses, which we got a chance to wear at the Digital Show in Melbourne over the weekend, take augmented reality to a higher level.
The wearable display pictured here with the trackpad controller on the left.
The glasses have a transparent display, which allows the user to see through the content that is projected onto the screen. The screen in question is an 80in, quarter HD resolution, "perceived screen" that's projected onto the real environment around the user. Epson says that in addition to entertainment purposes (such as watching YouTube videos while you walk around, perhaps), the glasses can be used in training environments and also in the field for designers or engineers who want to superimpose schematics over something their working on, for example.
Micro-projection technology is used for the glasses' display and they come with a portable trackpad controller that runs on the Android 2.2 platform. They have built-in Wi-Fi, but content can also be accessed off their integrated 1GB memory or via a 4GB microSD card. They can fit over existing spectacles and they have built in earphones as well.
For entertainment, the glasses are capable of displaying 3D content and they support Dolby Mobile Surround sound. Epson says they are perfect for getting a big-screen experience in environments such as an aircraft cabin or simply while lying in bed. For the moment, the uses for these glasses are not defined and Epson says it will be up to enthusiasts and developers to come up with new and exciting Android-based apps for them.
You can find out more about the Moverio glasses here: http://www.epson.com/moverio
This writer flew to the Digital Show in Melbourne courtesy of Epson.
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