Kevin254
Member
According to reports, Google has just acquired a Canadian startup, North, which launched a pair of smart-looking glasses last year. Due to this acquisition, the second generation of glasses originally scheduled to be listed at some time this year will be completely unable to plan release.
North released Focals 1.0 in January. The smart glasses use tiny lasers hidden in the armrest to project the image in front of the wearer's eyes. After pairing with a smartphone, they can display directions, display notifications, and even call Uber. However, the life span of smart glasses is very short. North announced in December that it would stop producing Focals 1.0 and develop a second-generation version.
Due to a deal with Google, North will no longer release Focals 2.0. In addition, it plans to turn off Focals 1.0 by the end of July. At the same time, a refund will be given to consumers, whose initial retail price is $1,000. For those early adopters who are keen on this technology, this is frustrating news. However, it is expected to be the first step towards a brighter future for smart glasses.
As of now, it is still unclear how Google will integrate North into the company. Google said the startup’s technical expertise will help it continue to invest in hardware work and the future of environmental computing. Google is still continuing its own Google Glass project. After Google Glass first launched its product a few years ago, Google has been trying to sell it to businesses rather than to consumers. If Google wants to resume the development of consumer-centric smart glasses products, North’s intellectual property and expertise in this area will undoubtedly be welcomed.
The latest developments and breakthroughs in the field of augmented reality (AR) may help make smart glasses feasible. People are reluctant to spend a lot of money on clumsy devices, regardless of their function, Google Glass is already a case. How will Google use its latest acquisitions? We will wait and see.
North released Focals 1.0 in January. The smart glasses use tiny lasers hidden in the armrest to project the image in front of the wearer's eyes. After pairing with a smartphone, they can display directions, display notifications, and even call Uber. However, the life span of smart glasses is very short. North announced in December that it would stop producing Focals 1.0 and develop a second-generation version.
Due to a deal with Google, North will no longer release Focals 2.0. In addition, it plans to turn off Focals 1.0 by the end of July. At the same time, a refund will be given to consumers, whose initial retail price is $1,000. For those early adopters who are keen on this technology, this is frustrating news. However, it is expected to be the first step towards a brighter future for smart glasses.
As of now, it is still unclear how Google will integrate North into the company. Google said the startup’s technical expertise will help it continue to invest in hardware work and the future of environmental computing. Google is still continuing its own Google Glass project. After Google Glass first launched its product a few years ago, Google has been trying to sell it to businesses rather than to consumers. If Google wants to resume the development of consumer-centric smart glasses products, North’s intellectual property and expertise in this area will undoubtedly be welcomed.
The latest developments and breakthroughs in the field of augmented reality (AR) may help make smart glasses feasible. People are reluctant to spend a lot of money on clumsy devices, regardless of their function, Google Glass is already a case. How will Google use its latest acquisitions? We will wait and see.
