Snap’s $2,195 Specs augmented-reality glasses combine digital overlays with interactive lenses designed to respond to the wearer’s surroundings. During a public demonstration in Los Angeles, the glasses supported virtual drawing, navigation, text analysis and sports-related experiences, while remaining surprisingly light and usable in bright sunlight. Snap announced the glasses in June and said they would begin shipping in the next few weeks.
Trying Snap’s Specs in Los Angeles
WIRED’s Julian Chokkattu and I tried Snap’s Specs last week. Chokkattu attended a dedicated demonstration at Snap, while I visited a Specs First Look demo at the Westfield Century City Shopping Center in Los Angeles. The temporary demo space had been open for only a few weeks.
On a warm Sunday afternoon, a steady stream of visitors arrived at the mall’s demo zone. Snap representatives provided the glasses to people who signed up to try them, and children moved through the activities as well. Visitors who completed the demo received free ice cream with a small chocolate cookie shaped like a Snap “speck.”
Augmented-reality features
The demonstration included more than a dozen lenses available for testing. Alongside an experience involving push-ups, the glasses allowed users to interact with the physical world by finger-painting in the air, placing navigation directions over their surroundings, drawing on a virtual notepad and analyzing text in a printed book.
Snap also included sports-focused features. One is described as being useful for golf, while a partnership with the NBA is intended to help users learn basketball shooting techniques.
Large frames and a visible display
The glasses look thick and relatively large, but they were surprisingly light and stayed securely in place. They are available in two sizes; people who find the smaller version too tight can try the larger model.
The virtual elements also remained visible in bright conditions. To test the display, I walked in direct sunlight with the brightness turned all the way up, and the digital overlays were still readable. The glasses automatically switched to “sunglasses mode” and darkened to reduce the impact of the sunlight. A Snap representative said the lenses always protect the wearer’s eyes from ultraviolet rays.
“You’re the first person to try it,” a nearby Snap representative said during the demonstration. Despite their size, the glasses fit comfortably and made a stronger first impression than expected.
Source: www.wired.com