Google has become the key reason for the competition in the development of AR glasses

　What is about to happen a few months ago adds to the reality. Google is reportedly developing augmented reality (AR) headsets. Oddly enough, this is also a path taken by the company a few years ago.

　In 2013, I took the commuter train on Google Glass. This is my first experience of smart eye wear. I also tried the Google virtual reality (VR) goggles "Daydream View" in cooperation with the "Android" smartphone, and the Lenovo independent VR headset in conjunction with Google's "Daydream VR" software. At the time, Mr. Clay Bavor, who was in charge of Google's AR VR business, I asked Google why it had moved the axis from hardware to the utility AR app for smartphones. That's what he said in the last conversation. Google will enter a period of "in-depth research and development" about the future of AR VR, and.

　The Verge reported last week that Google is developing AR headsets under the code name "Project Iris". As long as you read this article, Google's new headset doesn't seem to be much different from the one being developed by other companies. Use the camera to merge the real world and virtual images that can be seen opposite the monitor. It's like compound reality in VR. This is nothing more than the promise of the next headset of Meta (Old Facebook). I have tried Varjo's high-end headset, and it has achieved this. According to The Verge, the products produced by Project Iris are expected to be available as early as 2024.

　Google has been working on VR and AR for many years. It's strange to think that Google's product name can't be seen in the sudden discussions and reports related to Yuanbas. Because Google is important in determining the direction of smart glasses, it is probably the most needed existence.

Smartphones are part of the solution.

　Qualcomm has recently been working on smart glasses linked to smartphones, which seems to be the answer to the question of how to comfortably install and operate high-performance smart glasses. Niantic, Snap and Meta are developing similar products. Modern people can't do without smartphones for a while. That won't change for now. Smart glasses with processors, at least for now, have very poor battery holdings, so AR needs to actively take advantage of smartphones, or at least make apps installed in smartphones easier to run.

　I tried some new smart glasses, but the cooperation with other devices, especially smartphones, did not go well. However, Google is the developer of Android. He has also invested heavily in Anwei Technologies, apps and services that run across devices such as smart speakers, smart screens, smartwatches, and so on. Smart glass is also one of the objects of investment. Google's Project Iris may look like a standalone device that inherits Oculus Quest, but it is also likely to be required to connect to smartphones. Although other devices also need this role, but the current effect is not good.

Google's valuable experience works advantageous.

　Apple has a lot of experience in AR and wearable technology, but has never made an VR headset. By contrast, Google has 10 years of experience in actually putting early smart glasses on the market, and even building a VR ecosystem.

　Not only that Google has also introduced AR in search and maps. In 2020, it acquired North, a maker of smart glasses, and sold its own smart glasses in recent stores. In addition, it also has Owlchemy Labs that VR depicts the application "Tilt Brush" and develops popular VR games "Job Simulator" and "Vacation Simulator". According to the Alex Heath article published on The Verge, Google invested in Magic Leap a long time ago.

　I haven't tried it yet. Google experimented with AR remote monitoring using "Project Starline" in 2021. The project led by Bavor, who is also believed to be the leader of Google's new AR headset development project, is dedicated to developing what current VR and AR lack: excellent communication software. The current VR has not yet reached the level of completely replacing Zoom. It's the same with AR.