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New Snap Spectacles Feature Augmented Reality Display

spectacles.com

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Re: New Snap Spectacles Feature Augmented Reality Display

#41

Post by achow »

m3kw9 wrote: post #29

It says try it on in-app, I tried it on and they look like those UV shades for old ppl that blocks sun from the sides. No one in their right minds would wear them in public.

These are not for sale.

These Spectacles, however, aren’t ready for the mass market. Unlike past models, Snap isn’t selling them. Instead, it’s giving them directly to an undisclosed number of AR effects creators through an application program online. (Another indication they aren’t ready for everyday use: the battery only lasts 30 minutes.)

https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/20/22445481/snap-spectacles-...

Re: New Snap Spectacles Feature Augmented Reality Display

#42

Post by theFak »

moralestapia wrote: post #38

The cycle of "missed" opportunities. 1. Competitor A: "The new Spectacles are not for sale. They’re built for creators looking to push the limits of immersive AR experiences." 2. Competitor B: * actually sells the product * * time goes by * 3. Competitor B acquires 80%+ market share while other's "never saw it coming".

Why is that bad?

Re: New Snap Spectacles Feature Augmented Reality Display

#43

Post by upwardbound »

ugh123 wrote: post #34
upwardbound wrote: post #13

From the website: 26.3 degree diagonal field of view (stereo). Display brightness up to 2,000 nits. I worked on these but am not allowed to say anything other than citing public sources.

Why do they need to look so rectangular and retro (and not in a good way)? Is it due to the hardware & circuitry inside? Hope the eventual goal is to make these more appealing. I'd rather not everyone around me know these are what they really are.

Great question. Today's waveguide technology requires flat glass. (This is public information - Karl Guttag's blog covers the topic very well). Product designers have to either make the glasses flat (like Spectacles V4) or make the glasses much bulkier to hide the flat waveguides (like the front of Magic Leap). If added bulk were just a question of size, maybe that wouldn't be such an issue, but for a head-worn product every single gram of mass is important to optimize away.

Re: New Snap Spectacles Feature Augmented Reality Display

#44

Post by slg »

upwardbound wrote: post #13

From the website: 26.3 degree diagonal field of view (stereo). Display brightness up to 2,000 nits. I worked on these but am not allowed to say anything other than citing public sources.

It is good to see the brightness improving, but as someone who has played around with some AR devices I think AR is still waiting for the FOV to take a leap forward before these have mainstream appeal. It is just so unnatural when objects disappear from view if you aren't looking directly at them. This isn't as big of a problem in VR when your peripheral vision is just black and therefore your mind can easily learn to ignore it. You still see the world normally with AR and therefore are constantly reminded of the areas in your vision that won't see the augmentations.

Side note, props to Snap for being honest about this in their marketing material. For example, the FOV is noticeably limited in this video[1]. Lots of companies tend to dishonestly crop the image or blow up the augmentation so the FOV looks larger.

[1] - https://twitter.com/Spectacles/status/1395439601590833156

Re: New Snap Spectacles Feature Augmented Reality Display

#45

Post by sixothree »

jeffbee wrote: post #17
Judgmentality wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you say anything about potential applications? What do you think will be the killer app for this?

What would be any app for this? It's not immediately apparent why anyone would want this.

Sounds like a lack of imagination.

Construction - Show size/length of objects, show if object is level, highlight location of needed tool.

Navigation - Show arrow on top of uber/lyft, show directions. Show restaurant cleanliness score and rating.

Food safety - Show how long food has been out of fridge

Social - remind you of a persons name

Re: New Snap Spectacles Feature Augmented Reality Display

#46

Post by tartoran »

twobitshifter wrote: post #30
m3kw9 wrote: post #29

It says try it on in-app, I tried it on and they look like those UV shades for old ppl that blocks sun from the sides. No one in their right minds would wear them in public.

Are you saying old people are not in their right minds? I’d argue the opposite with regards to fashion choices, but I don’t think old people would go for these either.

Incidentally I'm only 40 and am often wearing those type of shades because my eyes are very sensitive and constant squinting gives me migraines. I actually came to like them quite a bit and two of my friends got them too, not out of need but because they think they look cool so its a very subjective thing after all.

Re: New Snap Spectacles Feature Augmented Reality Display

#47

Post by sva_ »

pugworthy wrote: post #19

I can tell you what I definitely would not be wearing or interacting with on the beach or in the forest: these for digital distractions and games.

It could be interesting to use them for info visualization and interaction though. Placing ideas in your surroundings while on a nice walk through the forest pondering about something you're passionate about sounds pretty intriguing to me.

Re: New Snap Spectacles Feature Augmented Reality Display

#49

Post by upwardbound »

moralestapia wrote: post #38

The cycle of "missed" opportunities. 1. Competitor A: "The new Spectacles are not for sale. They’re built for creators looking to push the limits of immersive AR experiences." 2. Competitor B: * actually sells the product * * time goes by * 3. Competitor B acquires 80%+ market share while other's "never saw it coming".

If anyone wants to, I'd highly encourage you to fill out the "Become a Creator" form with the idea of using the glasses to operate an "AR space" venue, like those VR spaces where people go with their family to play games. You could charge members of the public 20 bucks for 20 min of playing games that you make and you would be sold out for months because regular people don't have many chances to try AR without shelling out thousands on a hololens.

Re: New Snap Spectacles Feature Augmented Reality Display

#50

Post by viccuad »

upwardbound wrote: post #14
ChrisArchitect wrote: post #9

just realized the last part they snuck in there -- These aren't for sale, only for 'creators' looking to use them to develop 'Lenses' and AR stuff etc. hmph.

Fwiw at least this way if your idea gets approved you don't have to pay for the glasses -- much more fair to people entering SW development from impoverished backgrounds. To apply there's a form at the bottom of the page.

you give them your idea and control over it, basically. What could go wrong.
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