Google Glass paved the way for smart glasses and many other followed in its footsteps. Sony has also jumped on the bandwagon and is currently busy developing a micro-display called Single-Lens Display Module (SLDM) that will fit onto any sort of glasses while being detachable.
It has been equipped with a colored and high-res microdisplay along with a miniature control board and a micro-optical unit. According to Sony, the control board is ‘on par with smartphones’ and is capable of displaying to users information that is useful and can do it quickly over the user’s right eye.
A press release by the company said, “This display module possesses the potential to enrich users’ lives in a variety of ways. By simply attaching it to a pair of glasses, goggles, sunglasses, or other type of eyewear, you can instantly gain access to visual information that adds a level of convenience to your everyday life.”
Sony also revealed that SLDM has potential for applications in sports or any kind of work by displaying useful information. The module is connected to the frame of glasses and has been designed in a way that it poses no obstruction to user’s field of vision. The module is expected to go on sale in the coming year but a conceptual model will be unveiled at the CES scheduled for January in Vegas. The firm will also be releasing software development kits (SDK) for developers to create apps once the module reaches completion.
The micro-display for the module measures 0.23” while sporting a resolution of 640×400 pixels. The display unit will weigh around 40g with the display arm contributing 22g and the secondary arm with 18g. It will come equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and shall also include an electronic compass, touch sensor and an accelerometer. The gadget is powered by ARM Cortex A-7 Processor. No information regarding any camera has been released so far.
Sony explained, “Many situations spring to mind in which hands-free display of information would be extremely beneficial. For example, when cycling, playing a round of golf, or [taking part] in some other outdoor sport, attaching this module to a pair of sports sunglasses and pairing it with a smartphone would enable you to access valuable information such as course maps or distance readings, even when your hands are tied. Alternatively, the module could be paired directly with an action camera capable of remote display on a smartphone, enabling you to check the angle of view and the captured image from a distance through your eyewear. As a final example, Sony has high expectations for the module’s applications in a work setting, such as when linked to a factory’s internal infrastructure system. Instructions could be given remotely and hands-free, allowing workers to continue their work uninterrupted.”