What are smart glasses? You might think you already know the answer, but today, it's actually much more complex than it seems. Some people define smart glasses as any pair of "glasses" that have built-in technology, such as digital displays, computer chips, cameras, and microphones. Others, like Meta's Ray-Ban glasses and Frame AI, promote smart glasses as eyewear with built-in AI assistants (along with other features). We might also see today's most exciting form of smart glasses: AR (augmented reality) glasses.
What Are Smart Glasses? — The Basics
Ultimately, there isn't a single answer to "what are smart glasses?" Broadly speaking, smart glasses refer to wearable computing devices with an independent operating system, much like smartphones, which can be enhanced with various functions through software installations. These devices can provide numerous functionalities, but the specific technologies embedded in them need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. Most smart glasses include displays that overlay information in the user's field of vision.
Moreover, smart glasses can also be defined as eyewear that can electronically change optical properties, such as smart sunglasses that can change tint through programming or glasses with built-in audio functions. If smart glasses have posture tracking capabilities, they can be seen as augmented reality devices, overlaying virtual images through optical head-mounted displays or transparent heads-up displays.
If you check out the latest reviews and lists promoting smart glasses online, you're likely to find options belonging to specific categories. Here are the main categories you should be aware of when investing in smart glasses:
Smart glasses used as smartphone accessories
Smart glasses with AI assistants
Smart glasses equipped with heads-up displays
Smart glasses with virtual screens
True AR smart glasses
... ...
What Are the Uses of Smart Glasses?
As mentioned earlier, there are many different types of smart glasses that users need to explore, and you might wonder what their actual uses are. Again, this is a difficult question to answer, as the "use cases" for smart glasses generally depend on the type of glasses chosen.
For most users, smart glasses that are typically used as smartphone accessories are just a novelty. However, for content creators who want to capture and share social media posts on the go, smart glasses can be a valuable tool. For enterprise users and consumers, smart glasses with built-in AI technology and heads-up displays are excellent choices, providing instant access to information and guidance wherever they are.
More advanced smart glasses equipped with virtual displays are great options for enhancing productivity and entertainment, while advanced AR glasses can offer an ultra-immersive experience—a substitute for virtual reality.
Regardless of their form, these glasses have the potential to improve productivity and performance across various industries and environments. They can be found on construction sites, in manufacturing workshops, and in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Some developers have even begun experimenting with specific types of smart glasses to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
For example, there are glasses that enhance vision, making it easier to read small text, or other glasses that can convert written information into spoken words with the support of an AI assistant.
The Future of Smart Glasses
As you can see, answering the question "what are smart glasses?" today is more complex than it may seem. Although all types of smart glasses incorporate certain technologies, they cater to many different use cases and needs.
Choosing the right smart glasses depends on what you're looking for. Do you want a pair that allows you to use an onboard camera, microphone, speakers, and a built-in AI assistant? Or are you searching for glasses that can truly change your surrounding world through augmented reality technology?
With the advancement of wearable devices and extended reality technologies, we will undoubtedly see new definitions of "smart glasses" emerge, and in the coming years, AR glasses are likely to become even more impressive.
