Recon Jet. Sounds futuristic, huh? Well, it is. Augmented reality used to be a figment of sci-fi writers imaginations, until Google gave tech companies everywhere hope that wearable technology and augmented reality is possible, and more importantly, will sell. A lot. More and more innovators and startups are diving into the ocean of possibilities with augmented reality, and more specifically, augmented reality glasses. Of course, Google Glass is just for the average Joe, not really developed for any certain profession or hobby. Recon Jet, on the other hand is. It’s developed for those of you out there who are healthily obsessed with sports.
There are many smartphone apps and watches that can help with the two sports Recon Jet specializes in: running and cycling. But Recon Instruments, the makers of Recon Jet said “Pfft, we can do better!” And, truthfully, they did. They blew away those petty apps and watches. And here’s why. Recon’s augmented reality glasses Recon Jet has everything an athlete could want. Starting with, of course, a map. When you are exercising, instead of going only where you know how to get back, you could potentially just go wherever you fancy and use Recon Jet to get back. If you bike to work, and you don’t pay attention and get lost, Recon’s got you covered.
All the helpful stats and information that the other exercising apps and watches are all built in the Recon Jet, such as heart rate, time, distance, social rankings, social networks, vertical ascent, elevation and much more. Plus, more, all accessible right at the touch of the touchpad. While in the middle of an exercise or a race, knowing if you are slowing down or being able to see the exact race course so you don’t accidentally turn early and have to turn around is sometimes key.
The Recon Jet
The Recon Jet’s hardware is a pair fancy polarized sports glasses with a small curving rectangle with a high resolution display screen. Unlike Google Glass, the screen is not opaque, though it is pretty small so it is not very annoying and doesn’t block your view. In the rectangle, there is a dual core CPU, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, altimeter, thermometer. So basically, it can track and tell you a LOT of stats.
A Concept Of What Recon Jet Would Show When Playing Golf
Overall, these glasses are exactly what every serious athlete was hoping for. They are an athletes best friend. Ok, that might be going a little to far. But Recon Jet can also be used for other practices, such as surgery and as Recon CMO Tom Fowler said,
“I showed this to a U.S. Army doctor who had done a couple of tours in Afghanistan, and he said that if he’d had one in Afghanistan, people would have made it who, sadly, did not.”
These glasses make running and biking a better experience for the serious athletes all around. And if you are thinking about integrating technology in your daily workout by buying a fancy expensive watch or such devices, and are willing to cough up a couple hundred more dollars, the $600 Recon Jet is for you.
Willow Glass, Corning rising star, is not coming as soon as some would hope. Corning Willow Glass is a new type of flexible glass, which will be used for making wearable technologies like Apple’s iWatch.
Corning, who previously had said Willow Glass would be out by the end of the year, have moved their deadline back. They now say Willow Glass will be available for buying around 2016, interrupting the production of iWatches and other products back 3 years. It is only a small setback, and just wait until 2016 to see Willow Glass take over the modern world.
At the 2012 CES(Customer Electronics Show), Samsung showcased a prototype for their new smart window.
Samsung Smart Window is a great window for a double-tasker. If you put the window in your kitchen, you could get recipes with the recipes widget on the widget page, check your Twitter account and get the weather all in the time that you make breakfast.
The Samsung Smart Window is the start of a big wave of technologies, a lot like the smartphone and tablet wave(which is still not over). In fact, one of my earlier posts was about a future design for smart glass, Corning’s Gorilla Glass. In case you missed it, here they are again.
Samsung Smart Glass is good for night or day. At night, LEDs shine at the top and bottom of the window. Plus, if it is daytime, and you don’t want people to look in on what you are looking at, you’re covered. The window is one way, so people can’t even see into your house. Unfortunately, Samsung’s windows are not yet out on the market, and the prices are still undisclosed.
TOTW: Google's Project Ara Modular Phone May Be The Future Of SmartphonesOctober 30, 2014
