Printer vendor gets into smart glasses market

Epson showcased augmented reality smart glasses called the Moverio BT-200 at the Augmented World Expo in Santa Clara, Calif., today.

The Moverio BT-200 offers binocular smart glasses optimized for augmented reality applications. Micro projectors located on each side of the eyeglasses project transparent overlays of digital content directly in the user’s field of view over the real-world environment. In addition, the Moverio BT-200 glasses contain sensors such as a gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetic compass for head-motion tracking and hands-free navigation. A front-facing camera for video and image capture also detects real-world markers for augmented reality (AR) applications.

The printer vendor’s approach to market with the Moverio product is centered around the enterprise and in vertical markets. Epson said that its smart glasses technology will spur the creation of enterprise applications for worker efficiency and in vertical industries such as healthcare, logistics, field service, energy, manufacturing, education, and retail.

Anna Jen, director, New Ventures/New Products for Epson America, said more augmented and virtual reality companies continue to use the Moverio BT-200 smart glasses to create enterprise applications that improve worker efficiency in a wide array of vertical markets.

Some of the use cases for AR could lead to solutions wholesale supply chain tracking, surgical training for doctors in the operating room, and remote field service support for complex repair assistance, the company said.

Epson is partnering with augmented reality developers such as Scope AR, Metaio, Wikitude, APX Labs, and Wipro. In turn, these developers are showing off their solution on Moverio BT-200.

Scope AR showed an augmented reality training app that enables step-by-step assembly of a toy helicopter and a 3D game that lets you use the helicopter to put out virtual fires.

Metaio, Inc. demonstrated an augmented reality-based app to maintain and repair an air conditioner.

Wikitude used the Moverio BT-200 to visualize the solar system and receive basic information for each planet.

Meanwhile, APX Labs and its Skylight platform unveiled an integrated software solution for enterprise smart glasses that creates a new AR interface floating over your field of view.

Lastly, Wipro exhibited an augmented reality-based retail planogram execution and compliance validation for visual merchandising from this global information technology, consulting and outsourcing company.

The Moverio BT-200 smart glasses are now available with for $699.99.

At the show, Epson also presented a wearable hackathon event for Android developers and designers who want to explore the most innovative and useful applications for cutting-edge augmented reality glasses.