Snap Inc, owner of Snapchat, has unveiled Specs, augmented reality glasses it says are more capable than AI eyewear and less cumbersome than virtual reality headsets.
Evan Spiegel, Snap’s co-founder and CEO, described Specs as “the next evolution of wearable computing”.
“For decades, computers have asked us to look down, sit still, or step out of the moment,” he said. “Specs bring computing into the world around us where we live, work, learn, create, and connect.”
Powered by Snap’s proprietary augmented reality technology, the glasses feature a liquid crystal on silicon display with a 51-degree field of view and support for 16 million colors.
The device offers up to 4 hours of mixed-use battery life, with a private display that lets users stream content, cast screens, access collaborative whiteboards, and create mobile workspaces.
According to Snap, the viewing area is comparable to a 24-inch desktop monitor for work tasks or a 115-inch home cinema screen viewed from about 10 feet away.
Specs are made from Swiss TR90 polymer and will be available in two sizes. The 47mm model weighs 132 grams, while the 52mm version weighs 136 grams. Both support removable prescription inserts.
“With Specs, AI is not intelligence trapped in a chat box,” Spiegel added. “It is intelligence that can see what you see, understand what you’re trying to do, and help you in the moment.”
The glasses are available for pre-order at $2195 with a refundable $200 deposit and are expected to ship this fall in the US, the UK, and France.
- Further reading: Google to invest $100m in Gentle Monster to develop AI-powered glasses.
