After 10 years, AR glasses can't become the next iPhone

About 10 years ago, Google Glass was released, which was expected to become a popular device similar to the iPhone, but now it has not come to fruition.

During the I/O 2012 event in the US, Google co-founder Sergey Brin suddenly stepped on stage and mentioned "something interesting that Google is secretly working on". It's the Google Glass virtual reality headset .

At that time, Sarah Rotman Epps, an expert at market analysis firm Forrester, assessed: "Since the iPhone was launched in 2007 until now, not many devices have attracted the attention of as many users as Google Glass. It won't be a surprise that this will be the next iPhone ."

A decade has passed, Apple's smartphones have become more and more important devices for users, and VR / AR glasses are still less groundbreaking devices despite receiving high expectations and large investments in technology resources.

Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, introduces Google Glass during Google I/O 2012. Photo: The Verge

Failure of Google Glass

As soon as it appeared, Google's smart glasses caused a lot of controversy. Many people call the device a dream of the technology world, but there are also people who believe the product will fail. Some reports also show that the research and marketing team at Google admits this AR headset has many shortcomings when it comes to the public.

Google only released 8,000 glasses for up to $1,500. The rarity, expensiveness and new technology then helped Google Glass to be discussed throughout social networks. But it is also this that makes many people expect too much from the prospect of AR / VR virtual reality glasses.

Google Glasses can take photos, record videos, give directions, call virtual assistants, display some information about weather, calls, and messages. It sounds interesting, but that's almost all the device can do, and the experience is not as good as a smartphone. Another downside is battery life. Google says the glasses work for 6 hours continuously, but in reality only about 2 hours.

In addition, Google Glass is controversial in terms of privacy. Many experts worry that the device abets the act of sneaking in public places. Along with overselling, Google Glass was discontinued after three years of launch. To date, Google has not introduced a commercial version related to smart glasses.

Why are VR/AR glasses not successful?

According to Sina , today's smart glasses may not face the price challenge, but many manufacturers are still stuck in a vicious cycle of limited technology and experience. Some Chinese brands such as Xiaomi and Oppo have introduced smart glasses with a design similar to Google's model, but only in the form of simulations, not yet tested or commercialized.

Meanwhile, most companies develop smart glasses in the direction of VR, which means putting a bulky "projection booth" on the face. In terms of form, the glass of Meta, Micosoft, HTC... looks more like a face-mounted phone than glass in the true sense of the word. Despite improved performance and battery life, they are too large, creating a feeling of entanglement and discomfort for users.

In addition, current VR glasses require a lot of computing power. To integrate digital content, producers have to spend a lot of effort to standardize input data.

In mid-November, Niantic, the developer of the Pokemon Go game , also introduced a test version of AR glasses on the Snapdragon AR2 platform. Users can interact in the game and the real world through the compact glasses. It is rated close to meeting the 5 basic requirements of AR/VR glasses: comfort, wireless, portable, fashion, and multi-function. Niantic's glasses weigh 250g, which is not lighter than Google Glass but is the closest model to what users envision for AR glasses.

When introducing the product, John Hanke, CEO of Niantic, did not call the AR glasses "the next iPhone", but believed it would become an integral part of people's lives, similar to the way smartwatches have been. can do. He thinks it will take 3-5 years for smart glasses to really become popular.