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.
At the 2012 Google I/O, Google introduced their new augmented reality glasses Google Glasses. See my other article to read more.
Come on, you know you want one. Now, Google are giving anyone in the USA a chance to get an early pair of Google Glasses as part of their program, Glass Explorer Program. All you have to do is go on your Google+ or Twitter account and post what you would do with your pair of Glasses. *REMEMBER*, you have to put the hashtag #ifihadglass, or they will not read your submission.
Unfortunately, there are some rules. As I said before, you have to be in the USA. Also, you have to be 18 or over, which may be a problem young developers. But, if you fit the requirements, I completely recommend submitting. Google Glasses are just plain awesome. Good Luck!
Just as they have been planning, Google finally introduced their augmented reallity glasses, Google Glasses.
Google Glasses have many features, including a camera, speaker and mini screen that is placed in front of your right eye. The camera is used more for social purposes. You can quickly take a picture, and upload it to google+(not that anybody uses it). The speaker, which is hanging down in front of your ear, is used as a Siri type app to tell the glasses what to do. The glasses also double as a phone and a FaceTime monitor, which will eliminate holding your phone up to your ear. If you want directions, don’t take out your iPhone, Google Glasses have it. You just tell it where you want to go, and it gives you walking or driving directions. The directions show up on your screen, but it also says it in your ear. You can even get direction around a store, in case you can’t find your way around.
Here is a video that shows what it is like wearing Google Glasses on a regular day.
When Google had their I/O, not everyone could go. Only developers could go, and they could even BUY it for $1,500 before it comes out for the public in late 2013 early 2014. Google Glasses are also developer friendly, so they can make more apps, or even design mini add-ons.
Even though Google Glasses are very unique, they are DEFINITELY not the ultimate augmented reality glasses. Ultimate augmented reality glasses will completely erase the IPhone, having even better apps and utilities. Gaming in augmented reality glasses (something Google Glasses doesn’t have) will be the total experience. You would actually be seeing yourself race in a car alongside Mario, pulling back the slingshot in Angry Birds and slicing the rope in Cut The Rope.
There still might be some problems with Google Glasses. For instance, if the Siri app stops working, you can’t tell it to do anything. Plus, there is no manual way to type anything in. Still, it is very cool and I want one ( I don’t know about you).
TOTW: Google's Project Ara Modular Phone May Be The Future Of SmartphonesOctober 30, 2014
