IMPACT OF SMART GLASSES ON TRADE AND SOCIETY

Information and Automation of process in daily human life have become a necessity to invest time and energy. One of these technological devices are the smart glasses aimed to not only improve 20/20 vision but also share transfer and receive information through glasses hands free. Smart glasses are supporting devices connected to computers and smartphones through wireless process like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Video and documents can be seen as well as audio can listened. The display of data on the smart glasses through complex sensors shown is: Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Diminishing Reality. The human display interface can be further classified on their lens along with their filtering properties which are:

 

• Diffractive waveguide: Using slanted diffraction grating elements
• Holographic waveguide: 3 holographic optic elements (HOE) joined together
• Reflective waveguide: Thick light guide with single semi-reflective mirror
• Virtual Retinal Display (VRD): Also, Retinal Scan Display is a display technology that uses raster display system (like TV display) directly into the eye.

 

The first smart glasses were developed by Google in 2012. Since then, many companies developing smart glasses have similar product specifications. These components include Audio, Smart unit, Mic, Projector and Camera. Audio includes speakers and cellphone reception frequency transmitter. The audio waves pass through the bone conduction instead of air conduction through audio canal. Smart unit is the Central Processing Unit (CPU) situated on the upper ear. Mic is provided along the smart glasses to conduct hand free voice searches and converse on cellphone. Projector is located on the upper part of the lens used to display information and the variation in display of data being reflective, holographic, and reflective can be selected. Lastly camera used for taking photos and selfie.

 

The smart glasses are being used in a variety of fields of the world. Such as in documentation, productivity, healthcare, education, entertainment, and marketing. We have investigated each application of glasses extensively as evident in the following:

 

 Documentation

 Living in the modern period, recording, and communicating digital pictures and documents are vital activities. The digital information is seen by the wearer and the overall experience at that moment is stored. This is very important in legal situations as to witnessing a crime or in response to watching a catastrophic event to study and develop a contingency plan as in case of natural disasters.

 

Productivity

Smart glasses most purchase is done in the business sector, especially for improving the production process. The proof of efficiency attainment is shown by DHL in logistics, they have provided employees smart glasses that are programmed with color scheming to organize and manage products. Recording of experts regarding difficult maintenance tasks can be done with less error and can be used for employee training. Assembly drawing, route sheets, bill of materials and assembly charts through their glasses for engineers. Lastly GPS system can be used to monitor employee movements to monitor in case of time waste or overworking.

 

Healthcare

In terms of medicine the virtual reality is being used in diagnosis of patients. There is also usage in the surgical department when viewing blood vessel and nerves along with related information. For individuals with case of blindness the audio component of the smart glasses can be used to avoid traffic collisions and for navigation. For impaired hearing the glasses can be used to show the conversation audio converted to text.

 

Education

Augmented reality to view practical knowledge regarding devices and sites can aid students in the field of science and history respectively. 3D Simulations can also be used to test skills of students and they can engage in multiple scenarios to gain experience.

 

Entrainment

 Although 3D glasses are popular and widely used, in some areas of Japan smart glasses are used in cinemas to enhance the movie experience of the audience. Along with glasses the external environment is also modified such as installation of ventilator systems to stimulate the sensory perception of the customer. Another major market segment of smart glasses in entrainment are the gaming industry in which ocular lens-based glasses are being used by many gamers to provide an increase in value of product.

 

Marketing

 Smart glasses can be used by retailers in monitoring the customer purchase frequency and types of products being bought. Customer feedback and preferences are also recorded through the glasses. Product information for customer inquiry can be found through glasses as well keep track of inventory management to keep the supply chain responsive.

 

As smart glasses have numerous potentials in many industries there are disadvantages associated to the device. Some of these are:

 

• There is an issue of teaching and training of smart glasses for majority of the people. This can be time consuming and costly as per unit cost of glasses are 1800$.
• There is also a high probability of accidents due high focus on data and transfer of information flow through the glasses. United Kingdom as a result have banned the usage of smart glasses when crossing roads.
• Security issues as to hacking are also found in the usage of smart glasses as it is mostly hands free and transmission is done through Wi-Fi signals there is a high chance of stealing data.

 

Although glasses have their issues, they have immense potential in all major working sectors and through hands free and mostly sensory activation technology many of the process and tasks can be done with accuracy and convince.