With the smart glasses from tooz and the Nreal Light, we have two glasses from the fields of augmented reality and mixed reality on sale on our new INITIATE platform within two weeks. That's rad.
I still remember when we in the innovation department at Telekom took a look at Google Glass as one of the first smart glasses almost ten years ago. At the time, they were only available in the U.S. and only for a few testers. The application scenarios, such as navigation or smart travel guides, were actually understandable. Still, these smart glasses seemed like science fiction and something from a distant future.
A lot has happened since then. The technology has evolved. The glasses are easier to wear and operate. Numerous new providers are entering the market. We at Telekom are also very active in the field of mixed realities (XR), for example with the free Magenta VR app for iOS and Android or through our collaboration with the Taiwanese company XRSpace. Our startup incubator Hubraum regularly organizes programs where developers from all over the world can program apps for smart glasses and present their ideas. And I am happy to see that another product from the field of augmented reality, whose beginnings we were very close to with our team, is now in the starting blocks: The data glasses from tooz technologies. tooz technologies has developed an optical system for smart glasses that discreetly displays information from the smartphone in the wearer's field of vision. The entire technology is integrated almost invisibly into a normal pair of lifestyle glasses.
While filming for an episode from our TechBunker, I had the opportunity to test the DevKit and I have to say: I'm impressed. It wears like my normal prescription glasses - just a bit heavier. If you look straight ahead normally, you initially only vaguely perceive the overlay at the edge of your field of vision. Thus, the overlays do not interfere with normal looking.
However, if you concentrate on the field, you almost have the smartphone screen in front of your eyes 1 to 1 and can read news or see the navigation, for example. Calls can be accepted or ended via taps on the temple. You can use Google voice control to set reminders or write shopping lists.
I find it particularly exciting that the idea of smart glasses seemed extremely futuristic to me at the time with Google Glass. Today, on the other hand, I can very well imagine going to the optician at some point and having smart optics built into my glasses in addition to prescription lenses and blue light filters. Can you do the same?
The tooz DevKit is initially aimed specifically at developers, giving them the opportunity to discover the potential of this innovation and actively shape the use of smart glasses.
If you would like to try out these smart glasses, registered beta testers on the INITIATE platform can be the first in Europe to exclusively order the tooz Developer Kit for Smart Glasses until May 1.
