Do you still remember Google Glass? At that time, the visionaries in the industry excitedly thought that this was a product that subverted smart phones, an iPhone terminator and the next generation of human terminals. But what about the result? History has proved that it came too early and was pushed back by an inappropriate era.
Recently, the hot air of AR glasses has revived. Google acquired North, Apple, Huawei and Samsung are all applying for patents, and technology giants are all playing AR glasses. This shows that this is the signal of the second wave of AR headset craze.
These days, there are rumors about Apple glasses, and the news that Apple got its hands on augmented reality smart glasses has attracted much attention. People can't help but think of the bumpy experience of Google Glass. Can Apple avoid repeating the mistakes of Google Glass? Let's get to know each other and pay attention.
● What can Apple Glass do?
According to the current information, Apple is likely to make the first generation of Apple glasses an accessory product for iPhone. Just like the Apple Watch, the Apple Glass will be another screen of the iPhone, passing the information in the phone to your eyes.
The lens of apple glass will have holographic display function. Through this special lens, the wearer can see the familiar interface and the information transmitted from iPhone to smart glasses, including text, information flow, e-mail, maps and games. They will be highly unified with the UI design of the iOS system.
In terms of software and system, Apple is likely to develop an independent App Store for Apple Glass and a supporting glassOS operating system, which is only consistent with watchOS and tvOS. In terms of AR applications, Apple can completely open ARKit usage scenarios on Apple glasses to enrich the initial functions of smart glasses.
In addition, we predict that the function of the first edition of Apple glasses or Apple glasses in the initial form is difficult to show a stronger advantage than other AR glasses. The reason is that Microsoft Hololens 2 has also experienced many years of technical precipitation, and Apple glasses, which have just started in function and scene application, can not completely surpass the forefront of AR technology in the industry. For example, Hololens 2 has a viewing angle of 52 degrees and a resolution of 47 pixels per inch. Apple glass was basically within this parameter range at first. But Apple, which is good at "combining soft and hard", can always surpass the former in both operating system and experience.
● Benefits of myopia: lenses may replace "prescription lenses"
There are several reliable sources that Apple has made key progress in the research and development of lenses, an important accessory of smart glasses. According to a report, Apple has been cooperating with Foxconn's parent company Hon Hai Precision to develop smart glasses lenses since 20 18, which coincides with Apple's acquisition of Akonia Holographics, a start-up company of AR display equipment.
In early July, Apple applied to the Patent and Trademark Office for a patent entitled "Head-mounted electronic equipment with display device" and was awarded. In fact, Apple has applied for this patent many times, and every time it iterates over some new features.
In the patent, Apple mentioned the relationship between smart glasses, their operating systems and the iPhone. Just like the previous Apple Watch, Apple suggested to fill the glasses image with the display content of iPhone, and use the special optical elements of smart glasses to adjust between the eyeball and the glasses, so that the user's field of vision can be clearly focused on the image. In practice, visual effects should have holographic characteristics. Although the distance between the lens and the eyes is very close, the user seems to feel that the image is at a distance from himself.
In the concept contained in Apple's patent, the optical components will arrange coaxial lens settings for each eye, or use dynamic optical components that can be adjusted by the operating system. These components may include lenses, light guides, light source devices, mirrors and diffusers. This means that Apple glasses will have the effect of prescription (optometry) lenses, and the system can adjust the position of optical elements and other settings according to the optometry information of myopia users to correct users' vision.
● Can the technology of Apple glass processor keep up?
Like Apple Watch, it is entirely possible for Apple to design an independent processor for Apple glasses, which is also the process of integration and termination of AR glasses products.
At WWDC20, Cook threw out the concept of Apple Silicon, which is the highly autonomous future of Apple chips. An important reason why Apple wants to use self-developed chips in all products is to ask Apple to keep up with the chip manufacturing process.
Processor technology often affects the historical process of the whole industry, and many products with advanced concepts were delayed because of insufficient chip technology at that time. Google Glass is one of the most painful cases. The first generation of Google Glass is a simple toy, and the mass consumers who are familiar with smart phones can't find its use value at all.
Microsoft has been doing Hololens for so many years. Why are Apple, Huawei and Samsung suddenly launching AR glasses now? This is related to the development of cpu technology. Comparatively speaking, the iPhone ranges from 20 16 16nm, 20 17 17 to 20 18' s 7nm, and then to TSMC's promised 5nm in 2020 and 3nm in 2022. Apple Watch uses a simplified version of the A-series cpu. From the initial S 1 using 28nm to the current S5 using 7nm, it has gradually adapted to the market.
Similarly, U developed by Qualcomm, Huawei and Samsung for smart wear is also in the process. Of course, the chip design of different product types is quite different, but the core technology and process technology belong to the same place because of the same architecture.
Therefore, the technical process of AR headphones has reached a critical time node, and the sudden bubbling of Apple glass may really come at the right time.
Text/Shui Ge