Sony, which is well known for its smartphones and audio-visual electronic products, has tried to produce something different this time, which may potentially be a direct competitor to Google. It announced SmartEyeglass, an augmented reality wearable, in September 2014.
Sony will first release the SmartEyeGlass Software Development Kit (SDK) only for developers on March 10, 2015. Preorders can be made through the Sony website for the UK and Germany at £520.
SmartEyeglass is a heads-up-display-packing wearable that has the battery, speaker, microphone, NFC, and touch sensor in the form of a separate wired circular controller that clips onto your collar. Also, the wearable has new technologies such as heads-up walking directions or getting player stats while watching live sports.
Designed with holographic wavelength technology, Sony SmartEyeGlass can be paired with Android smartphones. It offers a 3 megapixel camera on board. You'll need to run the more recent 4.3 release to make full use of the camera. The camera is designed in such a way that gives users context-aware information through a CMOS image sensor. Other notable features include an accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass, brightness sensor, a microphone and a GPS connected from a tethered smartphone or tablet.
It has a transparency rate of 85% and is very thin (3mm/0.12 in thick) as a unique hologram optics technology has been used. The projected display is easily readable as it's monochrome.
Sony describes SmartEyeglass as a wearable that is "without any half mirrors that may obstruct the user's vision." Sony also will​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ sell the Internet-connected glasses in the U.K., Japan (preorder to follow in Japan and US after the initial phase) for a price roughly half of what Google charged for Glass.
Sony's SmartEyeGlass is similar to Google Glass. Although still in the development phase, we believe Sony through its SmartEyeglass is ready for a head-to-head competition with Google, especially when Sony will sell the high-tech glasses in the UK, Japan and Germany for $840, much cheaper compared to Google Glass's hefty $1500. With Google Glass off the shelves for now in an effort to make the wearable more futuristic, Sony has a great opportunity to conquer the wearable market.