Start-Up Story: Viewpointsystem

Note: Let me feed you some info about Viewpointsystem, the world's easiest way to integrate smart glasses into your workflow. Viewpointsystem does combine pioneering technology with scientific know-how in the field of gaze research.

They manufacture both the hardware and the software and stand for disruptive technologies that enable intuitive and even subconscious communication between humans and machines. The eye as a natural human-machine interface is the decisive key to this.

Thank you for sharing information about Viewpointsystem. From what you've provided, it seems that Viewpointsystem is a company specializing in the development and integration of smart glasses into various workflows. They focus on utilizing eye-tracking technology to create an intuitive and seamless communication between humans and machines.

Here's a summary of the key points you've mentioned about Viewpointsystem:

1. The company combines pioneering technology with scientific know-how in the field of gaze research.
2. They develop both hardware and software for their smart glasses solutions.
3. Viewpointsystem is focused on disruptive technologies that enable intuitive and subconscious communication between humans and machines.
4. The eye serves as a natural human-machine interface and is the key to their technology.

It sounds like Viewpointsystem is working on innovative solutions to improve human-machine interaction and make it more natural and efficient. Their technology can potentially revolutionize various industries by streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity.

What can you tell me about smart glasses?

Smart glasses are a type of wearable technology designed to be worn like traditional eyeglasses or sunglasses. They incorporate various advanced features and functionalities, such as augmented reality (AR), heads-up displays (HUD), and voice-activated controls, enabling users to interact with digital information in a hands-free and unobtrusive manner. Smart glasses can have various applications across different industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and entertainment.

Key features and functionalities of smart glasses include:

1. Augmented Reality (AR): Smart glasses can overlay digital information, such as 3D objects, texts, or images, onto the user's real-world view. This can be used for navigation, remote assistance, or providing contextual information about objects or locations.
2. Heads-Up Display (HUD): Smart glasses often include a small display that provides important information directly in the user's line of sight without obstructing their view. This can be used for showing notifications, navigation instructions, or real-time data.
3. Camera: Many smart glasses are equipped with a camera that allows users to capture images or record videos hands-free. This can be useful for documentation purposes, remote assistance, or live streaming.
4. Voice and Gesture Control: Smart glasses can be controlled using voice commands or hand gestures, enabling hands-free interaction with digital information.
5. Connectivity: Smart glasses typically connect to smartphones, tablets, or other devices using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular networks. This allows them to receive data, notifications, and other information from the connected device.
6. Sensors: Smart glasses can include various sensors, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and GPS, to detect motion, orientation, and location.

Potential applications for smart glasses:

1. Healthcare: Smart glasses can be used by medical professionals for remote consultations, telemedicine, or accessing patient information during surgeries or other procedures.
2. Manufacturing and Maintenance: Smart glasses can provide workers with real-time instructions, access to manuals, or remote expert assistance during complex tasks or repairs.
3. Logistics: Smart glasses can help warehouse workers by displaying real-time information about inventory, guiding them through optimized picking routes, and scanning barcodes.
4. Entertainment: Smart glasses can be used for immersive gaming experiences, interactive tours, or other location-based experiences.
5. Education and Training: Smart glasses can provide interactive, hands-on learning experiences or real-time guidance during training sessions.

Overall, smart glasses have the potential to revolutionize how we interact with digital information, enhancing productivity and efficiency across various industries.

Are smart glasses affordable? Can you indicate a price range?

As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the affordability of smart glasses varied greatly depending on factors such as features, intended use, and the target market. Prices ranged from a few hundred dollars for basic consumer-oriented models to a few thousand dollars for advanced enterprise-level devices. It is important to note that prices may have changed since then, and newer models may be available.

Here's a general price range for different types of smart glasses:

1. Consumer-oriented smart glasses: These devices typically offer basic functionality and are intended for everyday use or specific applications, such as drone piloting or sports tracking. Prices for these glasses can range from around $300 to $1,000 or more.
2. Enterprise-level smart glasses: These glasses are designed for industrial or professional use, offering more advanced features and often designed for specific industries like manufacturing, healthcare, or logistics. Prices for enterprise-level devices can range from around $1,000 to $5,000 or more.
3. Augmented reality and mixed reality headsets: These devices, such as Microsoft HoloLens or Magic Leap, are more advanced and provide immersive AR or MR experiences. They are typically priced higher due to their more sophisticated technology, with prices ranging from around $2,000 to $5,000 or more.

Please note that these price ranges are approximate and may not reflect the most current pricing for smart glasses. It's important to research the latest models and prices to get the most accurate information. Additionally, as technology continues to evolve, and production costs decrease, it is likely that smart glasses will become more affordable over time, making them more accessible to a broader range of users.

How do you see the future for smart glasses? Will the technology be added to all glasses for daily use?

The future of smart glasses appears to be promising, with continued advancements in technology, design, and usability. As the technology matures, it is likely that smart glasses will become more integrated into our daily lives. However, whether or not they will be added to all glasses for daily use depends on several factors:

1. Affordability: As production costs decrease and technology advances, smart glasses may become more affordable for a wider range of consumers. This could lead to increased adoption of the technology for daily use.
2. Design and aesthetics: One of the challenges faced by smart glasses is their design, which can be bulky or unattractive. As designers focus on creating sleeker, more stylish frames, and as technology components become smaller and lighter, smart glasses could become more appealing for everyday wear.
3. Functionality and ease of use: As the technology improves, smart glasses will likely offer a wider range of features and functionalities, becoming more useful and versatile. This could make them more appealing for daily use, as people find more practical applications for the technology in their everyday lives.
4. Integration with other devices: The seamless integration of smart glasses with smartphones, IoT devices, and other wearables will be crucial for their widespread adoption. As connectivity improves and ecosystems expand, smart glasses will become a more integral part of our digital lives.
5. Societal acceptance: The acceptance of smart glasses as a normal part of daily life will be important for their widespread adoption. This will depend on factors like privacy concerns, potential health risks, and public perception of the technology.
6. Industry adoption: If more industries adopt smart glasses and find practical uses for them, it could drive consumer adoption as well. As more people experience the benefits of smart glasses in professional settings, they may be more inclined to use them in their daily lives.

In conclusion, while it's difficult to predict the exact future of smart glasses, it is likely that they will become increasingly integrated into our daily lives as technology, design, and affordability improve. However, whether all glasses will eventually become smart glasses depends on the factors mentioned above, as well as the personal preferences and needs of individual users.

Who are the main players in the smart glasses market?

As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, there were several key players in the smart glasses market. Some of these companies may still be relevant, while others may have been replaced by newer entrants. Here's a list of some prominent players in the smart glasses market as of 2021:

1. Google: Google's Glass Enterprise Edition is a version of the original Google Glass specifically designed for enterprise use, offering solutions for industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics.
2. Microsoft: Microsoft's HoloLens is a mixed reality headset that offers holographic computing experiences, enabling users to interact with digital content in the context of their physical environment. HoloLens is designed for various applications, including industrial design, education, and healthcare.
3. Vuzix: Vuzix is a prominent player in the smart glasses market, offering a range of smart eyewear products like the Vuzix Blade, M-Series, and Vuzix Shield for applications in industries such as manufacturing, warehousing, and field service.
4. North (acquired by Google): North was a smart glasses company that developed Focals, a pair of stylish everyday smart glasses. In 2020, Google acquired North, and it's expected that their technology will be integrated into Google's future smart glasses projects.
5. Magic Leap: Magic Leap is a company focused on developing spatial computing technologies and products like the Magic Leap 1, a lightweight wearable computer designed for augmented reality experiences. The company targets industries like healthcare, entertainment, and enterprise applications.
6. RealWear: RealWear produces the HMT-1 and HMT-1Z1, rugged head-mounted devices designed for hands-free use in industrial environments. They offer voice-controlled access to documents, video collaboration, and other digital tools.
7. Epson: Epson's Moverio series of smart glasses are designed for various applications, including drone piloting, remote support, and augmented reality experiences. The Moverio BT-300, BT-350, and BT-30C are some of their products.
8. Nreal: Nreal is a company that develops lightweight mixed reality glasses called Nreal Light. These glasses are designed to offer immersive augmented reality experiences in a form factor that closely resembles regular glasses.

Please note that the market landscape may have changed since September 2021, and new players might have emerged or existing companies may have made significant advancements in their technologies. It's always a good idea to research the latest developments to get the most up-to-date information on the smart glasses market.

Do you know successful projects where smart glasses have been used?

Yes, there have been several successful projects and use cases where smart glasses have been employed across different industries. Here are some examples:

1. Google Glass in healthcare: Augmedix, a medical technology company, has been using Google Glass Enterprise Edition to provide doctors with remote scribing services. By wearing the smart glasses, doctors can record patient interactions and share real-time information with remote scribes, who transcribe the data into electronic health records. This allows doctors to focus more on patient care and reduces the time spent on documentation.
2. DHL and smart glasses for logistics: DHL, a global logistics company, piloted a program using smart glasses to assist warehouse employees with the picking process. The glasses displayed real-time information about the location of items, quantities to pick, and the most efficient route to follow. The pilot project showed a 25% increase in efficiency, and DHL decided to expand the use of smart glasses in their warehouses.
3. Microsoft HoloLens in manufacturing: Airbus has used Microsoft's HoloLens to provide workers with mixed reality instructions for assembling aircraft components. The smart glasses overlay digital information, such as 3D models and step-by-step instructions, onto the worker's view, reducing the need for paper manuals and improving accuracy and efficiency.
4. Vuzix smart glasses for remote assistance: Vuzix's M-series smart glasses have been utilized by various companies to provide remote assistance to field technicians. The glasses enable technicians to share their point of view with remote experts, who can then guide them through troubleshooting, repairs, or maintenance tasks, reducing downtime and improving efficiency.
5. Thyssenkrupp and Microsoft HoloLens: Thyssenkrupp, an industrial engineering and steel production company, deployed Microsoft HoloLens to help its elevator technicians receive remote, hands-free access to technical information and real-time expert support. This led to faster repairs and reduced downtimes for elevators.
6. Smart glasses in education: The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) conducted a study using Vuzix Blade AR smart glasses to help deaf and hard-of-hearing students with real-time captioning. The glasses displayed captions of the spoken content, making it easier for the students to follow along in class.

These examples highlight the potential of smart glasses to improve efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility across various industries. As the technology continues to mature, it is expected that even more innovative and successful projects will emerge.

Are opportunities available for entrepreneurs in the smart glasses market?

Yes, there are opportunities for entrepreneurs in the smart glasses market. As the technology continues to evolve and mature, new applications and use cases are emerging across various industries, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to innovate and develop new products or services. Some areas where entrepreneurs can explore opportunities include:

1. Niche applications: Identifying specific industries or markets that can benefit from smart glasses technology, such as healthcare, education, sports, or entertainment. By targeting these niches, entrepreneurs can create specialized products or services that cater to unique needs and requirements.
2. Software development: Developing applications and software solutions that run on smart glasses platforms can provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to tap into the growing market. This can include creating AR content, productivity tools, communication apps, or industry-specific applications.
3. Hardware accessories: Designing and producing accessories for smart glasses, such as customized frames, lenses, or mounts, can cater to users looking for personalized or specialized solutions.
4. Integration services: Providing integration services to help businesses implement smart glasses technology into their existing workflows can be a valuable service offering. This may involve training, technical support, or custom software development to ensure seamless adoption.
5. Data analytics and visualization: As smart glasses generate and display a wealth of data, entrepreneurs can develop platforms and tools to analyze, visualize, and make sense of the data, helping businesses make more informed decisions and improve operations.
6. Training and education: Offering training and education programs to help users learn how to use smart glasses effectively can be a valuable service. This can include workshops, online courses, or certification programs.
7. Marketing and advertising: Developing creative marketing and advertising solutions that leverage smart glasses technology can offer unique, immersive experiences for consumers. This can include creating interactive ads, promotional content, or location-based campaigns.
8. Consulting services: Providing consulting services to businesses interested in adopting smart glasses technology can help them identify the best solutions, devices, and strategies to meet their specific needs.

As the smart glasses market continues to grow and technology becomes more widely adopted, opportunities for entrepreneurs will likely expand. By staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry and identifying emerging trends, entrepreneurs can position themselves for success in this evolving market.

Peter Auwerx, chatting to chatGPT latest version.