When a brand new gadget is launched into the tech world, it’s often offered out earlier than it goes to market. Pre-sales and consumer take a look at information are the very best indicators of how profitable the expertise shall be. When Google introduced its cool eyewear often known as “Google Glass” in 2012, it was touted as the following 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 solely from the market.
There are various explanation why it failed. Marketed as a luxurious style merchandise, the value tag was too excessive, they have been very heavy and never extraordinarily snug and there was a significant privateness problem with the mounted digital camera. A number of software program bug fixes and rising security issues led to their eventual downfall.
If at first you don’t succeed, must you do it once more?
Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon appears to assume so.
In a latest interview with CNBC, he introduced that the chip maker could be taking up the problem to develop blended actuality glasses that may connect 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 shall be totally different and will provide new experiences due to trendy Generative AI. Qualcomm has had some success with Ray-Ban Meta Sensible Glasses working on its Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform.
Nevertheless, some critiques of them aren’t that favorable. “They’ve a modern wearable design however are actually solely good for listening to music or taking movies,” writes Taylor Hayes on howtogeek.com. Whereas eyewear may sound a bit enticing to a bookworm, the value doesn’t justify the ROI on this case. Listening to music and taking movies could be performed on some other transportable gadget that may be carried in your pocket.
I hate to confess it however, I don’t see any worth in three main expertise corporations spending a lot time, cash, and analysis on a tool that thus far has confirmed to not be that standard and is nothing greater than a high-tech style 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 want units that they can be utilized hands-free, and the privateness issues have not likely been addressed.
I may in all probability leap on the bandwagon if the mission 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 assuage the signs of ADHD, and audible studying applied sciences could be an ideal service for the blind.
It will likely be fascinating to see what the brand new designs and expertise must provide. There was no actual 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 persons 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 communicate. She considers herself lucky to put in writing day by day and says her mantra is, “I drink espresso, write, and I find out about individuals and expertise.” Her writing is various and could be discovered on-line on web sites like LifeHack, You Have a Calling, Medium, TechCrunch and, She Is aware of.
