Vuzix Blade – Page 2 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

January 6, 2018

Luxexcel Partner with Vuzix for 3D Printed Prescription AR Headset Lenses

Those of us requiring glasses already know how frustrating it can be to wear certain ill-fitting virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets, but now thanks to Luxexcel, we’ll be able to put on our headsets without any concern very soon.

Vuzix

Luxexcel are, it is claimed, the only company in the world with the capability to 3D print speciality ophthalmic lenses, allowing them to create custom ophthalmic products, and now thanks to their partnership with Vuzix, you’ll be able to get custom-made lenses for glasses-free viewing in Vuzix AR headsets.

The new Vuzix Blade will have the prescription inserts, and will be introduced at CES 2018, Las Vegas. Known as the VisionPlatform, the potential of Luxexcel’s 3D printed lenses doesn’t end with AR headsets, as they have further use in VR headsets, and other wearable smart devices of the future.

Luxexcel CEO, Hans Streng, understands the needs of the global market when it comes to lenses in these new devices; “60% of the US population needs eye correction. Without custom prescription inserts, those people will not be able to fully enjoy the most advanced new augmented reality products. Luxexcel is thrilled to partner with Vuzix as the early adopter of 3D printed ophthalmic lens inserts. We see great synergy between the amazing innovations of Vuzix and the technology of Luxexcel.”

Hopefully with this additional bit of accessibility, AR and VR experiences will be open to a wider range of people. Paul Travers, Vuzix CEO, says; “We are delighted that with the 3D printed prescription lenses provided by Luxexcel, a much broader audience can enjoy our unique new product, the Vuzix Blade.”

This isn’t the first time Vuzix have looked out for the eye-health of their customers, as they recently helped a High-School student with new smart glasses. The Vuzix Blade glasses are available for pre-order now, and are perfect for those with the need for extra spectacles.

How do you feel about 3D printed lenses and Vuzix smart glasses? Let us know in the comments, and stay on VRFocus for everything in the future of both VR and AR.

January 5, 2018

Vuzix to Debut ‘Blade’ Smartglasses at CES Next Week

Vuzix today announced they’ll be unveiling their latest smartglasses at this year’s CES in Las Vegas. Called Vuzix Blade, the smartglasses are more of a heads-up display akin to Google Glass than a positionally-tracked AR headset like Microsoft Hololens or the upcoming Magic Leap One, although the Blade’s styling certainly comes closer to ‘normal’ than many we’ve seen before.

The Vuzix Blade connects to either iOS or Android devices, letting you answer phone calls, view notifications, and capture video or images with the 8MP front-facing camera. Weighing in at 3 oz and using proprietary waveguide optics, the company says they’ve fit in a “sizable virtual screen and brilliant pallet of colors via a thin completely see-through lens, in a fashionable form factor.”

While “fashionable” is pretty subjective, you’d probably get away with wearing them on the subway/tube/metro without getting too many sideways glances—one of the main factors behind the outlash against Google Glass users that had its part in driving Glass into the enterprise sector and out of the reach of consumers. The Blade’s design certainly isn’t any worse than wearing a backwards Kangol hat.

The Blade comes in two developer kit versions; a ‘prosumer’ version and an enterprise-focused version, although both offer the same hardware specs and are both priced at about $2000. The company, which is asking for a $500 deposit to reserve either unit, is staying mum on launch dates, and hasn’t published hard specs yet regarding field of view (FOV) or battery life, etc.

The glasses run their own Vuzix Blade OS which allows users to navigate data via simple swipes and taps, or simply use voice controls and external AI systems thanks to an integrated mic.

“What differentiates the Vuzix Blade from all existing or proposed AR smart glasses and mixed reality head mounted computers, is that it’s built for today’s user,” Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix. “With a fashionable form factor, a brilliant display, and a broad range of features that allow the user to experience AR at work or play, the Vuzix Blade is the first pair of smart glasses that people would actually enjoy wearing.”

We’ll have feet on the ground at next week’s CES in Las Vegas, starting January 9th until the 13th. We hope to brings you more information on Blade and all AR/VR hardware and software descending on Sin City.

The post Vuzix to Debut ‘Blade’ Smartglasses at CES Next Week appeared first on Road to VR.

December 7, 2017

Pre-Orders For Vuzix Blade Now Open

Vuzix are one of the companies that has benefited from the rising interest in the use of augmented reality (AR) for business and enterprise applications. Vuzix has mainly been promoting its M300 smartglasses product for this purpose, but now the company is ready to launch pre-orders for its new Vuzix Blade smart glasses.

Vuzix have announced that pre-orders for the Vuzix Blade development kit are now available. Vuzix has used its experience with the M300 smartglasses along with its patent portfolio to further develop areas such as optics to create a product which they claim is the smallest and sleekest set of smartglasses created so far.

The advantage of the Vuzix Blade, as with other AR solutions, is that it allows AR content and information to be overlaid on the real world, allowing users to perceive the environment whilst still having access to up-to-date information and graphics in a hands-free way, without needing a smartphone or tablet.

The small, compact form factor of the Vuzix Blade resembles a pair of sunglasses, and weighs less than 3 oz., including the camera, CPU sensors and batteries, making it comfortable for users to wear.

The development kit for the Vuzix Blade will include a pre-production version of the Vuzix Blade smartglasses, which will be upgraded to the production hardware when it becomes available. The kit will also include access to the software development kit (SDK), which will allow for the creation of applications and optimisation of content specifically for the Vuzix Blade hardware.

The Vuzix Blade development kit will cost $1,997 (USD), and interested users can get on the list for one of the kits by placing a reservation deposit of $495. The development kits are expected to ship at some point in early 2018. Further information can be found on the Vuzix website.

VRFocus will bring you further news on Vuzix as it becomes available.