Are Smart Glasses the future of eyewear?

You are on an impossible mission to save the world. You have limited time, and you have to achieve the goal of maybe detonating a bomb, beating the villains, and getting out of the situation by blowing up the whole area right behind you. Just like a true hero.

You might not be G.I. Joe, going on a mission to save the world. You don’t need 24 hours data on whoever you meet. You don’t need A.I. assistance to tell you that what you have been staring at is a piece of burger and not a million-dollar maths problem.

You might not feel the need to wear high tech smart glasses, but they look fascinating. You have always dreamed about owning such high tech device. After watching Iron Man, Robocop and the plethora of sci-fi movies, I too think of having such a thing. It’s cool. It might feel childish, but it’s a childhood dream.

Smart Glasses are No Longer a Dream

With the advancement in artificial intelligence and virtual reality technology, making smart glasses is no longer a thing of sci-fi movies. There are many available in the market. They might not live up to your fantasies. At least, they work.

Today’s smart glasses are wearable computer glasses that show you information alongside what you see. If you are eating a burger, it might show you the calorie count in your field of view. If you are reading a news blog, it may help you with looking for difficult words. Maybe not too smoothly as in your favourite movie. You can stream a movie if the battery can last for hours.

Besides showing you superimposed information on your field of view, you can use the device for lifelogging or activity tracking.

All Eyes on You

You may feel the need to wear prescription glasses, but not smart glasses. The chances are very slim. Also, this new invention is quite pricey for an average Joe to become G.I. Joe. The average prescription glasses with high-quality blue light lenses are enough for you.

But if you still insist on getting these glasses, you may have some privacy concerns. You can get data on everything you see. You can even get info of some passerby like a real-world Sim game. Similarly, your personal information, your daily activities are also under the radar. This is different from walking under camera surveillance around the alleyways or in your office. Those are installed to prevent any crimes. But the digital device that you are carrying on your eyes records everywhere you go, even in personal spaces. The same problem is posed with smartphones, but you will not take it to your very intimate spaces.

How safe are Smart Glasses?

There are one too many devices competing for your attention. You have your smartphones that keep popping notifications all the time. Your smartwatch in your hand also takes your eyes away. And if you are wearing a Bluetooth headset, you are more likely to go to La la land while driving. If you add these glasses that will stay in the most attentive space, you are prone to accidents. Some reckless drivers may put on a movie while driving to show off their multitasking skills.

In the US, a man was hauled by the traffic police for wearing a mounted headset while driving. But he was let scot-free as the police could not prove that the device was switched on when he was driving.

Because of similar safety considerations, smart glasses are likely to be banned in the UK, quoting them as careless driving. Better stick to your fake reading glasses that make you appear intelligent. You will not get pulled over for no good reason.

Can smart glasses cause headaches?

Yes. These glasses can give you headaches. Have you ever put your thumb right near your eyes and tried seeing it? Doing it will give you a headache. Most of us have done this when we were kids. The images superimposed by these glasses are also in that uncomfortable zone.

Also, it is uncomfortable to focus on the side of the field view where most of the information is shown.

Smart glasses are high-tech. Maybe the newer version in the future can help in negating the issues posed by the current product. But that’s in the future. For now, you are exposed to too many blue lights and information overload. Let’s not complicate too much of our daily use products. And glasses being the eyes for most people with weaker eyesight, getting a headache because of them or getting distracted is unpleasant. You may get these smart glasses for recreation use but not as regular prescription glasses.