The FINANCIAL — Sony Corporation (“Sony”) has developed1 the “SmartEyeglass” transparent lens eyewear that connects with compatible smartphones2 to superimpose information such as text, symbols, and images onto the user’s field of view, and it is moving forward with preparations towards the commercialization of the product. In order to explore the possibilities with and facilitate the development of apps for the device, Sony announces that it will offer the SED-E1 “SmartEyeglass Developer Edition” for sale in Japan, the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Germany from March 10th.
In the UK and Germany, the device is now available for pre-order. It will also be offered for sale to enterprise customers in France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden from March 10th in order to promote the development of apps geared toward industrial use. The SmartEyeglass Developer Edition will be sold through the dedicated SmartEyeglass page of “Sony Developer World,” an application development support website for Sony products.
In addition to the hardware, Sony will also begin providing the official release of the Software Development Kit (SDK) for the SmartEyeglass, an upgraded version of the Developer Preview SDK that it has made available since last September. Through this official release, it is looking to promote the development of even more apps compatible with the device. Sony also has its eyes set on the future of wearable devices and their diversifying use cases, and it hopes to tap into the ingenuity of developers to improve upon the user experience that the SmartEyeglass provides.
Going forward, Sony will accelerate its efforts to promote the development of apps for SmartEyeglass, as it eyes the commercialization of the product for both consumers and enterprise customers in 2016, according to Sony.
In addition to acting as the purchasing portal for this device and as the channel for obtaining the SDK, the dedicated SmartEyeglass page on the Sony Developer World website will also provide detailed specifications on the device as well as information potentially useful for app development, such as examples of apps already in existence and conceivable use cases.
“Sony Developer World” SmartEyeglass dedicated page
The SmartEyeglass has the potential to be used in a wide range of scenarios*3, depending on the app installed on the wirelessly-connected smartphone that it is being used in conjunction with. Its most salient characteristic is the superimposed display of information on top of a view of the real world, which enables the user to obtain desired information without having to turn his attention away from what he is doing or looking at. This has considerable implications for AR (augmented reality), which holds great potential in the domain of professional use as well, such as when giving instructions to workers at a manufacturing site or when transmitting visual information to security officers about a potential breach.
Indeed, at the Sony booth at CES 2015 held in Las Vegas in January, several instructional apps (developed by APX Labs Inc.) for the workplace setting were showcased, utilizing SAP’s cloud computing system. One of the apps helps users at a warehouse select the correct component to use next, and another gives step-by-step engine maintenance instructions at a repair shop. Many applications for consumer use also seem ripe with potential, such as the user viewing data related to a certain player while watching a game, displaying SNS messages pertaining to an event the user is attending, and displaying sightseeing information while exploring a tourist spot. The SmartEyeglass will thus be able to realize more convenient and enjoyable lifestyles for users.
Sony is working to build a rich portfolio of apps compatible with the SmartEyeglass so that individuals across the world can benefit from the increased convenience in accessing helpful information that wearable devices provide, both in professional use and consumer use settings.
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