The idea and concept behind smart glasses makes so much sense. Instead of having to glance as your phone for notifications or to take a photo, a pair of smart glasses can do all of that. It can also display information like a map to tell you where to go, but yet the concept of smart glasses has yet to take off, despite efforts from the likes of Google.
However according to a report from CNBC (see video above), it seems that by the end of this year, we can expect to see a new pair launched by a company called North that is backed by Amazon. These glasses will feature integration with Alexa (not surprising) and for the most part has been designed to be as inconspicuous as possible.
Unlike Google Glass which makes it pretty obvious you’ve a pair of smart glasses strapped to your face, the Focals will look like a regular pair of glasses and will also support prescription lenses. The device will feature a small projector that will beam information like a holographic display to the wearer, such as the time, the date, the weather, messages, and so on.
To address the issue of privacy, North has opted not to include a camera, and the built-in microphone will only be turned on when it is needed. That being said, the Focal’s design isn’t as seamless as we had hoped. There will be an accompanying ring controller that you’ll need to interact with the glasses, so depending on how comfortable you feel about wearing rings, this may or may not be a good thing. There is also the cost in which the Focal will be priced starting at $1,000 when it goes on sale later this year.
Filed in . Read more about Alexa, Amazon and Wearable Tech.