After a lapse of 10 years, there are many signs that Google's AR glasses project is showing signs of making a comeback.
In 2012, Google officially announced plans for the "Extended Reality" glasses project. In 2015, only 9 months after its release, the "short-lived" Google Project Glass (Google Glass) completely withdrew from the stage of history; after 8 years, in January 2022, the AR project of Google Project Iris was exposed by the media. Recently, there was news that "Google acquired Micro LED start-up Raxium for 1 billion, or provided display modules for its AR head-mounted display devices."
Bransjen tror at Google sannsynligvis er i ferd med å-tre inn i AR-sporet. Google, som har lidd tap, falt saltomortaler og betalt skolepenger, vil bli litt klokere når den -entrer AR-arenaen denne gangen igjen?
Det har vært store saltomortaler på AR-banen
På AR-sporet, hvis Apple er en konservativ, er Google en direkte radikal. For åtte år siden betalte Google mye skolepenger for sin radikalisering på grunn av sin avanserte distribusjon av AR-maskinvare. I april 2014 ga Google ut et 1500 Google Project Glass. Ifølge brukere som har brukt Google Glass, er Google Glass som en liten skjerm som bæres på øynene. Linsen er som en dataskjerm. Vis informasjon, som vær, e-post osv., og den kan også ta bilder.
Når det gjelder denne Google Glass, er det konstante tvilstester i bransjen - høye kostnader, mangel på applikasjoner, invasjon av personvern og umoden teknologi er alle kritiserte mangler.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has publicly stated that it is difficult to see the appeal of Google Glass, and "this AR wearable device will not be popular."
"How do you not look embarrassed when you wear it? How do you use Google Glass without breaking eye contact?" Meta CEO Zuckerberg asked after trying on Google Glass. Despite being skeptical about Google Glass, Zuckerberg said there would be an app for Glass in the future if possible.
Før Zuckerberg tilpasset applikasjonen for Google Glass, ble den bare solgt i ni måneder. I januar 2015 ble Google Glass avviklet og relaterte prosjekter ble satt på vent.
"When Google Glass was launched, the related technology was very immature, and the commercial application logic was not yet formed." Weng Dongdong, a researcher at the Institute of Optoelectronic Information Technology and Color Engineering, School of Optoelectronics, Beijing Institute of Technology, said in an interview with a reporter from China Electronics News.
Presset for å starte igjen er fortsatt ikke lite
"The past is overwhelmed, and the future is a lesson." The short-lived Google Glass not only sounded the alarm for friends who coveted the AR/XR track, but also made Google understand that it is not advisable to deploy hardware ahead of time, and it needs to wait patiently for the technology and industry to mature.
Industry experts said, "Compared with 8 years ago, the recent technological and industrial maturity has improved qualitatively." This may be one of the reasons why Google chose to re-enter the game.
Taking the acquisition of Micro LED microdisplay company by Google as an example, its display effect has greatly improved compared with the solution 8 years ago. It is understood that Raxium, which is rumored to be acquired by Google, is a company focusing on the development of monolithic integrated RGB Micro LED microdisplays for AR/VR/MR device applications. Its customers include global technology leaders. In this regard, the industry interpreted it as "Google's intention is to plan to use Micro LED displays on its latest AR headsets".
Det er forstått at Micro LED-skjerm har fordelene med høy lysstyrke, fargekontrast, oppløsning, energisparing, tynn og lys, og har blitt skjermvalget for avansert AR/VR-utstyr. Vuzix, OPPO, TCL, Xiaomi og andre merker har lansert relaterte produkter og konsepter. Produkter, Micro LED-produsenter fremmer også kontinuerlig utviklingen av industrialiseringen.
Industry experts believe that Google, which has re-started this time, has obviously become smarter. "This acquisition of microdisplay companies starts from the upstream of the industry chain to help Google better grasp the performance and presentation effects of its products." Experts said.
Combined with the news that "Google's AR project codenamed Project Iris, the product is expected to come out in 2024", it is believed that Google has returned to the AR track this time. Judging from the information currently available to reporters, the future AR track technology bureau will be crowded with giants, even a little crowded. Except for Google, which has not officially announced the AR project, Meta, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and other technology giants have successively disclosed that they are researching or will launch soon. AR glasses products, the AR glasses track is about to set off a hot war.
At the same time, experts also said that AR wearable devices have certain particularities. In addition to the reserves of technology and industrial chain devices, Google and other brands also need to make long-term layout and consideration, and the challenges they face are not small. "Compared with standardized electronic products such as mobile phones, watches, and headphones, AR glasses are more special." Weng Dongdong pointed out that due to the huge differences in the individual conditions of human eyes - face shape, eye distance, as well as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, these will affect users There are individual differences in the same AR glasses. Therefore, consumers have higher customization requirements for products such as AR glasses, and manufacturers need to deploy and consider them in advance. Other experts boldly speculate that AR glasses may open a new chapter in customized consumer electronics.
