Apple’s rumored AR and VR carriers may have a new competition. 9to5Google discovered that the well-known leak WalkingCat shared a pair of videos which apparently represents Samsung’s conceptual vision for augmented reality glasses. The Glasses Lite glasses are aimed at everyday users and allow them to watch movies, video chat or (snag) work without needing a large conventional display. They will even have a “sunglasses mode” to tint if you are more interested in protecting your eyes than communicating with virtual screens.
Meanwhile, a ‘Next Wearable Computing’ video shows how AR glasses can help with work. An AR office will of course help get things done, but you can also make holographic calls where attendees are present in the room. With AR simulations, you can even explore a digital space (for example a room design) as if you were there.
It is not certain how close it can be to reality. The Glasses Lite is more realistic than the Next Wearable Computing concept, but it seems to be even more than Samsung wants to do as a prototype of an actual project. As it currently stands, some of these reflect the goals of products like Microsoft’s HoloLens. The difference, as you would guess, is that Samsung will drop bulky headphones in favor of sleek glasses.
There is an incentive to research these products even if they are years away from reaching customers. AR is considered one of the next technological frontiers, and companies like Apple and Microsoft have poured massive resources into making the format viable. If Samsung does not investigate the category, it runs the risk of being left behind if and when AR takes off.