Sony debuts answer to Google Glass

JUST when you thought your spectacles didn’t need wi-fi, Sony has unveiled two smartglass prototypes at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

JUST when you thought your spectacles didn’t need wi-fi, Sony has unveiled two smartglass prototypes at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, bringing the technology back into the spotlight.

But the internet-savvy eyewear is different to Google’s Glass that started the trend, with one pair of smartglasses using see-through screens over both eyes, and the other added to existing spectacles.

Sony says the smart spectacles could be used to automatically recognise acquaintances, translate foreign text, snap photos, and play games.

Test run ... on the head, the SmartEyeglass spectacles are heavier than typical glasses frames, with arms that sit wider than normal. Picture: Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

The Sony SmartEyeglass spectacles, on show in a corner of the Consumer Electronics Show’s main hall, have two transparent lenses that let wearers maintain eye contact with others while reading notifications from their connected phone, navigational directions, or other

information on the screen.

Sony claims this system “superimposes information on to the user’s natural field of view”.

On the head, the SmartEyeglass spectacles are heavier than typical glasses frames, with arms that sit wider than normal.

Green text appears just below the wearer’s normal eye line. In navigation mode, it displays nearby points of interest and, when selected, arrows towards the destination.

Where to next? ... in navigation mode, the SmartEyeglass displays nearby points of interest and, when selected, arrows towards the destination. Picture: Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

To select options, Sony’s prototype smartglasses must be connected to a wired controller that also provides a shortcut to its 3-megapixel camera, hidden over the left eye.

Sony also showed off a removable version of the internet specs, called SmartEyeglass Attach!, that are more like Google Glass thanks to an arm that stretches down the right side of the glasses, delivering a 0.23-inch screen.

The Attach! glasses feature a more prominent camera, the arm with its small screen can be moved to different angles, and it’s powered by a 400mAh battery.

A Sony spokesman said the smartglasses currently had no release date, although the company released a software developer kit to encourage third parties to make apps for the spectacles.

Other smartglasses on display at CES include the Toshiba Glass prototype that also requires a wired connection, and the large Epson Moverio BT-200 smartglasses that use transparent lenses.

Originally published as Sony debuts answer to Google Glass