Shortcuts

Google Glass competitor GlassUp unveils first public prototype at CES

2014-01-08 08:57 by Daniela
Tags: GlassUp, Google Glass

For the first time in the US, GlassUp, a start-up company specializing in augmented reality eyeglasses that competes with Google Glass, will have a working prototype of its augmented reality glasses available for hands on demos at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. Under development for over a year, GlassUp is in the final stages of its prototype and visitors will have the chance to try on a pair of GlassUp glasses at the Eureka Park area of CES, in the Venetian Hotel (booth #75604). GlassUp, a much less expensive competitor to Google Glass, will make it easy for people to see their emails, texts, Facebook updates, directions and more, right in front of their eyes and directly from their smartphone without having to check their devices. The GlassUp API has recently been released to a select group of developers who will be creating apps for displaying a whole range of content to the glasses with the API now available for any developers who request it. GlassUp operates as a second screen output for Internet-connected devices with Information sent from the smartphone to the glasses through a low- powered Bluetooth connection. The glasses display all notifications from a connected Android or iOS Smartphone to the special lenses that display them as if they were in the air in front of the user. Messages are projected from a small electronic circuit and optical element housed in the frame. What content people receive is determined by the applications they download. Compared with Google Glass and other "eyeglass display devices," GlassUp advantages are:

Projects the information close to the center of vision (like looking through a windshield), resulting in less strain on the wearer's eye. Other display glasses force the wearer to lift their eyes around in an unnatural way to see what's on the screen (like looking through a rearview mirror).
Costs much less than major brands. The market price will be $399 - much less than the projected cost of Google Glass.
Delivers long battery life averaging 150 hours stand by, and 8 hours of normal usage.
The initial version is a "receive only" device, so there are no photos, videos or privacy issues.
Projects in monochrome, so it's easier read.

In addition, GlassUp is now running a crowdfunding equity campaign on SEEDRS.com to raise additional funds for the first production run. More information is available here.