Mixed Reality Glasses
Virtual reality and mixed reality keep growing in popularity as the year progresses. The latest piece of mixed reality called nreal, comes from CES a startup company. According to engadget.com, the startup CES created “low-profile mixed reality glasses that look and feel almost like ordinary sunglasses, so you can use them out in the open without getting too much attention” (Lai, 2019). Instead of having a big headset on, this company created wearable glasses that you can walk out in the street with, but still have elements of mixed reality with you in your daily life. The nreal glasses “offer sharp and vivid images thanks to 1080p laser projectors, while offering a 52-degree field of view” (Lai, 2019). These glasses also include “dual microphones along the top for clearer reception, along with stereo speakers towards the end of both foldable arms” (Lai, 2019).
According to nreal.com “the nreal light, is the world’s first lightweight and comfortable MR glasses sporting an industry-leading wide-screen vivid display. Combined with its SLAM-based environment-understanding AI algorithms, nreal offers a truly immersive MR experience.” Nreal also comes with prescription lenses for those that need it. The startup CES wants these glasses to cost ”the same as a smartphone” (Lai, 2019). With the cost of nreal glasses being pretty affordable they can be more available to the average person.
With the nreal glasses I think there is possibility for good, but I also think it could take away from being present in our everyday life. Since these were created to be wearable and accessible during our daily commute, or while we are visiting with friends I think it can create a lot of problems. I think MR and VR are positive and they can be used for a lot of different areas in life. However, I think having digital or virtual images while driving can be distracting. Or while we are walking down the street, I think it takes us out of actual reality when we should be more focused on being present in the world and with those around us. Our phones are already distracting enough and I think the nreal glasses will just add to that distraction. I think there is a time and place for VR and MR and it doesn’t need to be part of our lives everyday.
Sources:
Lai, R. (January, 2019). Nreal Light are mixed reality glasses in disguise. Retrieved from https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/08/nreal-light-mixed-reality-glasses-sunglasses-hands-on/
nreal.com (https://www.nreal.ai/about)
