Category: Augmented Reality Technology

The company has confirmed that the wearable technology is headed north of the border, following new e-labeling laws.

Canada has now passed a law that has stated that high-tech devices that have screens that are non-removable – such as in the case of Google Glass – are no longer required to use a physical label for information such as their serial numbers, as they are now permitted to use an e-label, instead.

This change in Canadian law says that smartphones and wearable technology can now use electronic labeling.

That difference is quite important to the ability to bring new types of high tech devices, such as Google Glass, certain smartwatches, and other forms of wearable technology, to Canada, provided that they are capable of showing e-labels on displays that cannot be removed from the device. The labeling laws in the country, which previously required these mobile devices to don physical labels of serial numbers and other information, was making it prohibitively difficult

Industry Canada made this announcement in a recent press release, welcoming Google Glass and Apple Watch.

The news release said that these labeling regulations are “opening Canada’s markets to the latest wireless wearable devices such as Google Glass and Apple Watch.” The old laws stated that all electronic, radio, and terminal equipment devices needed to show serial or model ID numbers, registration numbers, and certification numbers that were printed directly onto the device, itself, or had to be attached with a sticker.

This made it difficult – or impossible – for certain electronic and mobile devices that were manufactured in other parts of the world to be able to enter the Canadian markets. Now, the regulations have been changed and have become effective, immediately. They state that high tech gadgets that have non-removable display screens can provide that information by way of an e-label, instead of a physical printing or sticker.

The types of devices that will now be able to carry an e-label are smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, wearable glucose monitors and – once it arrives – Google Glass, Apple Watch and other forms of wearable technology with a non-removable screen. Industry Canada also pointed out that electronic labels will be able to provide additional information that physical labels cannot include due to space restrictions, such as warranty information. Moreover, remote updates to correct inaccuracies are also possible with these e-labels.

Augmented reality is beginning to gain traction in many sectors, particularly entertainment. This technology is not new, having first been alluded to in 1901. In 1968, the first augmented reality headset was invented by Ivan Sutherland. Since then, the technology has been experiencing slow advances until very recently. In the 2000’s, the technology began receiving more attention as a way to, quite literally, change the way people see and experience the world around them. In the past few years, augmented reality has come to play a major role in the tech field, especially when it comes to mobile technology.

In entertainment, AR is beginning to play a big role. The technology is being put to use in a variety of mobile applications, many of which involve gaming. The game industry has taken a strong interest in AR because of its interactive nature. Companies like Sony and Microsoft are reportedly developing AR headsets that can transform a living room into an interactive gaming experience. Some small development studios are using the technology in their games to provide players with an experience they cannot find elsewhere.

Beyond the novelty aspects of AR, the technology is seeing some practical use as well. In the medical field, augmented reality is being used as a sort of high-tech assistant. Surgeons are using the technology to perform delicate procedures with extreme accuracy. AR is also being used for biological studies, allowing researchers to see and manipulate 3D images of cells. AR is also used in architecture, where computer-generated images of a structure can be superimposed over real life locations.

Augmented reality certainly has the potential to change the way people see the world, but its capabilities are often limited by existing hardware. Many mobile devices are simply not powerful enough to take full advantage of the features of AR. Larger computers can push the limits of AR, but tend to fall short as the use of AR becomes more complex. In the future, the limitations imposed on AR may be erased, and how the technology injects itself in daily life may be a marvel.