Lenovo reveals smart specs that let you eyeball five virtual displays, with strings attached
(2021/01/11)
- Reference: 1610329119
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/01/11/lenovo_thinkreality_a3_smart_glasses/
- Source link:
Lenovo has introduced “enterprise smart glasses” that it says can project up to five 1080p windows onto your eyeballs.
Announced at the virtual CES trade show, the “ThinkReality A3 lightweight smart glasses” come with strings attached – or a USB-C cable, to be precise. Said cable connects to either a PC or Motorola smartphones employing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800.
[1]
Lenovo reckons that when tethered to a phone, the glasses will enable industrial augmented reality applications. When tied to a PC, the company says the device will let users “position multiple, large virtual monitors in their field of view and use Windows software tools and applications.” But the company hasn’t explained how users will interact with those virtual monitors.
[2]
The ThinkReality A3 smart glasses.
Click to enlarge
Mark Pesce, a Reg [3]columnist , VR/AR pioneer and author of [4]Augmented Reality: Unboxing Tech's Next Big Thing , said his first reaction to the device was to ask “Why?”
He later asked: “What apps on a phone make five displays relevant?” and “Who needs five virtual displays tethered to a PC?"
Pesce also pointed out that it’s unclear how users will see their keyboards when wearing the glasses, but rated the device’s form factor as “outstanding” and said it appears to have a good array of sensors.
But he worries Lenovo has not detailed if it can perform “registration” – a technique that means virtual artefacts persist in real space. Registration means AR/VR devices are useful in more than one location.
[5]
We’ll all have to wait for that information, because Lenovo’s said the device will go on sale “starting mid-2021.” ®
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[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_emergent_tech/front&sz=300x250%7C300x252%7C300x600&tile=3&c=33X-vbag6IJMeSv3qsPm84mQAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[2] https://regmedia.co.uk/2021/01/11/lenovo_thinkreality_a3_smart_glasses_detail.jpg
[3] https://www.theregister.com/Author/Mark-Pesce
[4] https://www.amazon.com.au/Augmented-Reality-Unboxing-Techs-Thing/dp/1509540946/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mark+pesce&qid=1610327338&sr=8-1
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_emergent_tech/front&sz=300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251&tile=4&c=44X-vbag6IJMeSv3qsPm84mQAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Announced at the virtual CES trade show, the “ThinkReality A3 lightweight smart glasses” come with strings attached – or a USB-C cable, to be precise. Said cable connects to either a PC or Motorola smartphones employing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800.
[1]
Lenovo reckons that when tethered to a phone, the glasses will enable industrial augmented reality applications. When tied to a PC, the company says the device will let users “position multiple, large virtual monitors in their field of view and use Windows software tools and applications.” But the company hasn’t explained how users will interact with those virtual monitors.
[2]
The ThinkReality A3 smart glasses.
Click to enlarge
Mark Pesce, a Reg [3]columnist , VR/AR pioneer and author of [4]Augmented Reality: Unboxing Tech's Next Big Thing , said his first reaction to the device was to ask “Why?”
He later asked: “What apps on a phone make five displays relevant?” and “Who needs five virtual displays tethered to a PC?"
Pesce also pointed out that it’s unclear how users will see their keyboards when wearing the glasses, but rated the device’s form factor as “outstanding” and said it appears to have a good array of sensors.
But he worries Lenovo has not detailed if it can perform “registration” – a technique that means virtual artefacts persist in real space. Registration means AR/VR devices are useful in more than one location.
[5]
We’ll all have to wait for that information, because Lenovo’s said the device will go on sale “starting mid-2021.” ®
Get our [6]Tech Resources
[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_emergent_tech/front&sz=300x250%7C300x252%7C300x600&tile=3&c=33X-vbag6IJMeSv3qsPm84mQAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[2] https://regmedia.co.uk/2021/01/11/lenovo_thinkreality_a3_smart_glasses_detail.jpg
[3] https://www.theregister.com/Author/Mark-Pesce
[4] https://www.amazon.com.au/Augmented-Reality-Unboxing-Techs-Thing/dp/1509540946/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mark+pesce&qid=1610327338&sr=8-1
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_emergent_tech/front&sz=300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251&tile=4&c=44X-vbag6IJMeSv3qsPm84mQAAAM0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Mark can't see a use case so the tech is junk?
Mark Pesce, a Reg columnist , VR/AR pioneer and author of Augmented Reality: Unboxing Tech's Next Big Thing, said his first reaction to the device was to ask “Why?
If the 5 screens have to be in your field of view all the time Mark might have a point. If they can be placed anywhere and become visible when you look in user set directions it's a different matter. Working on a car? Have a pdf of the manual floating a head turn away. Working at your desk? Have more screens floating above & around your main screen or look in the direction of your front door to see the CCTV feed of who's just rung the doorbell.
So long as it's all processed locally I'm interested to know more.