AR Glasses: Leading the Next Revolution in Information Technology

AR glasses are set to usher in the next revolution in information technology. Information serves as the foundation for humanity's understanding of the objective world and its developmental patterns, while information technology acts as the primary driving force behind the advancement of human civilization. So far, humanity has experienced five significant information technology revolutions, and the next one is on the horizon.

Thousands of years ago, humans first began to convey information through language, marking the dawn of the first information technology revolution. Following a lengthy evolution, we completed the second, third, and fourth revolutions, which involved the use of writing, the invention of the printing press, and the advent of telegraphy, telephony, and television. By the 1960s, we entered the fifth revolution with the invention and widespread adoption of computers and mobile phones.

As information technology rapidly advances, we continue to break the established limitations of the physical world. From language to writing, information technology transcends the constraints of time, allowing instant information passed down orally to endure for millennia. From letters to telephones, it overcomes spatial barriers, enabling instant communication between people separated by vast distances.

What kind of breakthroughs can we expect from the next information technology revolution?

AR Glasses: The Future Computing Platform

What direction will information technology take in the future? We can analyze this by examining consumer demands for computing platforms. Although consumer needs have evolved over time, two core requirements have remained unchanged: ease of use and a sufficiently large display.

To meet these needs, computing platforms have transitioned from traditional computers to mobile phones, and then from small-screen smartphones to larger versions, including foldable devices. However, mobile phone performance has now reached a bottleneck, making it challenging to resolve the conflict between convenience and screen size. Therefore, I believe that the next information technology revolution will move toward developing devices that are easier to use and feature larger displays.

As a new generation of immersive computing platform, AR glasses effectively address the conflict between convenience and large displays. Unlike smartphones, AR glasses enable consumers to view virtual images while simultaneously experiencing the real world, facilitating a seamless merging of the virtual and physical. Furthermore, AR glasses not only have a lightweight design similar to regular eyewear but also deliver an expansive display experience.

Thus, AR glasses are broadly considered the next computing platform following computers and smartphones. Major players such as Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Google, Huawei, OPPO, Xiaomi, and ByteDance are actively positioning themselves within the AR glasses industry.

Diffractive Waveguide: The Key to the AR Glasses Market

For AR glasses to become consumer-grade products, their core optical display module must meet consumer demands in three critical areas: comfort, immersion, and affordability.

Firstly, as a piece of everyday wearable technology, consumers hope to wear something that is comfortable and can accommodate different interpupillary distances. This requires the AR optical display module to be sufficiently lightweight and slim while also offering a large enough eye movement range.

Secondly, as an immersive device, it needs to provide a strong sense of immersion. This means the AR optical display module must have a wide field of view and a substantial eye movement range.

Thirdly, to facilitate rapid adoption, the device must be priced accessibly. This necessitates that the AR optical display module be highly manufacturable with low production costs.

By analyzing various near-eye display technologies, including prisms, freeform surfaces, Birdbath, array waveguides, and diffractive waveguides, it is evident that diffractive waveguides offer advantages such as being lightweight, having a large field of view, a wide eye movement range, and low production costs, effectively satisfying consumer requirements for comfort, immersion, and affordability.

Therefore, diffractive waveguides are widely considered the future mainstream display technology in the AR industry, often hailed as the key to unlocking the AR glasses market. Major international companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Meta are actively positioning themselves in the diffractive waveguide technology sector.

By combining grating design, grating master processing, and nano-imprint production, the company can achieve rapid product and technology iterations, allowing it to swiftly catch up with international leaders. Furthermore, it can provide customers with fully customizable AR diffractive waveguide products, tailored to both appearance and performance.

AR Glasses: Bringing Unprecedented Immersive Experiences

From the perspective of information display, AR glasses will usher in unprecedented changes to information technology. Currently, the computing platforms we use, whether computers or smartphones, can only offer us two-dimensional information. In contrast, AR glasses will transport us into a three-dimensional digital world where the virtual and the real merge and interact, creating a more efficient experience.

Furthermore, AR glasses not only provide an enhanced interactive experience but also liberate our hands. For example, when repairing equipment, AR glasses can automatically identify the machinery and offer visual installation steps or usage instructions. This reduces the need to consult a physical manual, greatly freeing up your hands.

You can even interact with the virtual information projected by AR glasses in real time through voice commands, gestures, or eye movements. For example, you can create a three-dimensional image out of thin air and manipulate it directly with your hands, just like you would with a physical object.

The distinctive characteristics of AR glasses allow them to empower individuals across various contexts, such as social interactions, entertainment, and tourism. It is believed that in the future, AR glasses will emerge as the next generation of computing platform, driving the next revolution in information technology and taking human civilization to new levels.