An Introduction to Spectacles by Snap Inc.
How many times have you wished you could capture a memory and be able to relive it over and over without having to pull out your phone and record it? This opportunity is now going to be reality with the use of the new Spectacle glasses from Snapchat. These glasses will be going on sale sometimes this fall for only $130 and will be available in black, teal and coral.
Snapchat, which has recently been rebranded to “Snap Inc.,” plans to release this product as their first piece of photo hardware in small increments as it’s being produced. However, it has announced that it will only be creating “a limited amount” of them.
According to The Verge, Snap Inc. has decided to limit production because it wants to get feedback from users first. Before continuing, the company says it wants to make sure that this is a product that fits into people’s lives.
While wearing the glasses, the user will be able to tap the button on the top in order to record a 10-second video that will automatically be posted wirelessly to their Snapchat account via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Each additional tap will add another 10-second video, up to 30 seconds total. The lights on the front of the glasses will indicate when video is being recorded as well as the amount of battery life still available.
The stylish sunglasses will feature two 115-degree lenses that together will record circular video and resemble a person’s field of view. Having this wide angle video allows viewers to rotate the device they are viewing the snaps on, making it seem like a more realistic video memory from a natural point of view.
As this product begins to expand to the public, more people are getting a chance to try them. Users who have already tried the prototype say they are highly impressed. Chief Executive, Evan Spiegel, told The Wall Street Journal, “I could see my own memory, through my own eyes — it was unbelievable.” He stated that it was closest thing to reliving the memory he had without actually being there again, far surpassing any regular picture or video.
Many will likely compare these glasses to other wearables such as Google Glass. However, Snap has designed it to function in a similar way while being much less obvious to the passerby. At about one tenth of the price, these “high fashion gloss sunglasses” will be less conspicuous than Google’s and much more affordable.
The company will also be marketing the product differently. Rather than aiming for the glasses to be used as a face computer, Snap is focusing on making it a more camera-orientated device. They are said to be more of a “GoPro for your life.” It gives users the ability to record hands free at any time without the annoyance of picking up your smartphone.
Overall, Snapchat as a form of social media has been widely accepted. It has been classified as a more casual medium for people to post about what they’re doing at any given time or place, free of judgement. Snaps are not meant to be viewed tomorrow or held onto in memories for long periods of time. “It’s not about an accumulation of photos defining who you are,” says Spiegel. “It’s about instant expression and who you are right now.” These new spectacles are simply an extension of that.
By taking this next step of creating a wearable product, Snap Inc. is moving closer to their goal of being recognized as a camera company. This “toy” is being looked upon as a whole new type of camera that will be used in a freer and more fun way to share video.
Having access to this new technology, users will be able to “live post” exactly what they are viewing at any given time. While videos, and pictures, on Snapchat are more entertainment based, these spectacles will allow posts to be educational and journalistic as well. These glasses will give viewers a “real life” perspective of different events that spectacle users may attend. This can be a beneficial technology to all those who cannot attend specific events, but still wish to acquire the knowledge from them. Journalists specifically can use Spectacles to report on current events, in real time, from their own point of view. This can be a huge step for journalists reporting from the Spectacles. If they are able to use the glasses to report, they can be the first to get out new stories. They can also make use of this to give a first hand perspective.
The countdown until the release of the Spectacle glasses is on, however without a specific date, users will have to be on the lookout for more details. Upon use by the general public, we will be able to see the impact these glasses will have and how they are accepted overall. There will likely be mixed reviews as the product begins to emerge into the public, but when the kinks work themselves and this product can be used in a beneficial way.
