Tag: ar technology

This rival to Google Glass will become available for purchase during the first quarter of next year.

Sony has announced that its augmented reality glasses, a product which will be in direct competition with Google Glass, will become available by the end of March, next year.

Simultaneously, it revealed that its software development kit has now become available.

The hardware for these augmented reality glasses will also soon be available for developers. This announcement about the SmartEyeglass aligns well with a range of different product unveilings and releases within the wearable technology category. That said, while many companies (including Sony) have been stepping into wearables with devices such as smartwatches, not nearly as many have looked to headsets for this same purpose.

The augmented reality glasses from Sony were first revealed in their prototype form at the recent CES 2014.

These AR technology devices are meant to be just as versatile as Google Glass, while rising above those rival products in a number of ways. While the prototype for the SmartEyeglass is somewhat awkward in appearance, it is heavily equipped with a range of different sensors, such as an electronic compass, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, an ambient light censor, and a 3 megapixel camera. It is also wired to an external battery pack that is equipped with a microphone and added touch sensor.

Now, Sony has also released the software development kit for this wearable technology and has stated that by the end of March, next year, the hardware kits would also be ready for developers to purchase. Aside from the way that the battery is attached, the primary difference between the Sony product and Google Glass is that the SmartEyeglass uses a green monochrome display in order to be able to provide an information overlay over the actual view of the user.

Like Google Glass, the Sony augmented reality glasses will be able to sync with Android smartphones in order to provide the wearer with various types of alerts and other forms of information, such as navigation directions. After recent announcements that mobile devices have been hurting Sony’s profitability, it is clear that they are highly driven to make their mark in new cutting edge market sectors.

Kids with Crocs can interact with AR-enabled Jibbitz charms using a smartphone.

Augmented Reality company, Zappar, has teamed up with Crocs, the makers of the popular rubber, slipper-like shoes, to provide children with an interactive experience via Jibbitz shoe charms, which use AR tech that is activated through a smartphone app.

Via mobile technology, the charms can be transformed into interactive pets and games.

There are four different Jibbitz charm packs for girls and boys. After purchasing a charm pack, the next step is to download the free AR app that has been created by Zappar. Using the app, children can use the camera lens of a smartphone to enjoy different activities with the charm. For instance, they can play with and pamper a kitten playing “Pet Salon”, take customized photos in “Fairy Land”, engage in “Battlefield” a paint ball tank game, or play “Racing Car’ a racing game.

Caspar Thykier, the CEO and founder of Zappar said that “Crocs is a great partner to showcase Zappar content in new and fun ways.” He added that “This ground-breaking new range of Jibbitz is an excellent example of the ways in which children’s charms are becoming more interactive. Add a bit of magic to your shoes by turning them into a game, whenever and wherever.”

The senior director of global licensing, Jibbits, and the children’s footwear division at Crocs, Matt Lafone, also commented on the partnership with Zappar, saying that the company is always on the lookout for fresh ways to create interactive moments for children and Zappar has enabled them to do that.

Children respond well to augmented reality, a technology that is also showing promise as an effective educational tool.

AR technology has been featured in museums and is appearing more and more in schools. In addition, this type of technology is also being used in school textbooks and has gained positive results.

Due to the fact that augmented reality is interactive, it has the potential to really capture a child’s interest and enhance learning experiences. The Jibbitz AR charms are available in the United States and the United Kingdom via Corcs stores and at Crocs online.