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."
В отрасли считают, что Google, вероятно, вот-вот-возвращается на путь дополненной реальности. Google, который понес убытки, упал с кульбитов и заплатил за обучение, станет немного мудрее, когда на этот раз снова-выйдет на арену AR?
На трассе AR были большие кульбиты
Что касается дополненной реальности, то Apple — консерватор, а Google — откровенный радикал. Восемь лет назад Google заплатила много денег за свою радикализацию из-за передового развертывания аппаратного обеспечения дополненной реальности. В апреле 2014 года Google выпустила 1500 очков Google Project Glass. По словам пользователей, носивших Google Glass, Google Glass похожи на небольшой монитор, надетый на глаза. Его линза похожа на экран дисплея компьютера. Отображение информации, такой как погода, электронная почта и т. д., а также возможность делать снимки.
Что касается Google Glass, в отрасли постоянно раздаются голоса сомнений -: высокая стоимость, отсутствие приложений, вторжение в частную жизнь и несовершенство технологий — все это критикуемые недостатки.
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.
До того, как Цукерберг настроил приложение для Google Glass, оно продавалось всего девять месяцев. В январе 2015 года производство Google Glass было прекращено, а связанные с ним проекты приостановлены.
"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.
Давление, чтобы начать снова, все еще не мало
"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".
Понятно, что дисплеи Micro LED обладают такими преимуществами, как высокая яркость, цветовой контраст, разрешение, энергосбережение, тонкость и легкость, и стали лучшим выбором для-оборудования AR/VR высшего класса. Vuzix, OPPO, TCL, Xiaomi и другие бренды запустили соответствующие продукты и концепции. Продукты, производители микро-светодиодов также постоянно продвигают прогресс индустриализации.
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.
