User Experience Design

When Will Tech Companies Stop Trying to Make Smart Glasses Happen?

I still don’t know a single person who has a pair

Photo by Bakir Custovic on Unsplash

In the rapidly evolving landscape of wearable technology, smart glasses have emerged as one of the most ambitious and challenging frontiers. These devices, which integrate computing capabilities into eyewear, have undergone significant transformation since their mainstream introduction over a decade ago.

Google Glass burst onto the scene in 2013, heralding what many believed would be the next computing revolution. The sleek, futuristic headset featured a small display mounted above the right eye, allowing users to view information without using their hands. Despite generating immense buzz and anticipation, Google Glass faced substantial hurdles. Privacy concerns sparked by its built-in camera, a steep $1,500 price tag, and the social stigma of wearing such conspicuous technology in public created significant barriers. By 2015, Google had pulled the consumer version from the market, later pivoting to enterprise applications where the device found more practical use in industrial and medical settings.

Snapchat, then primarily known for its messaging app, surprised the tech world in 2016 with the introduction of Spectacles. These…