Osterhout Design Group secures $58m series A round to boost smartglasses arm

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Mobile AR/VR smartglasses developer and manufacturer Osterhout Design Group (ODG) has closed a $58 million series A funding round with the participation of Shenzhen O-film Tech, Vanfund Urban Investment & Development and several individual investors participated, along with principal outside investor and strategic partner 21st Century Fox.

The money will be used to boost ODG’s production capabilities, complete its new products to be introduced at CES ’17 and expand its...

By Wearable Tech, 02 December 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Eyewear, Virtual Reality.

Opinion: Microsoft's hardware event is a flourish or fizzle moment

(Image Credit: Microsoft)

During the Wall Street Street Journal's WSJD Live conference, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said there was "no question" the company missed its opportunity when it came to mobile. "We clearly missed the mobile phone, there's no question," Nadella said. "Our goal now is to make sure we grow new categories." 

The peak of the mobile...

By Ryan Daws, 25 October 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Devices, Eyewear, Smartwatches, Virtual Reality.

Two examples of how enterprise wearables are starting to make their mark

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ABI Research has argued in its latest note that wearables in the manufacturing and field services verticals represent one quarter of devices shipped to end users in 2016, while video collaboration software developer Pristine says that more than half of its customers have moved from pilot programs to full-scale production deployments with its smart glasses range.

The forecast from ABI Research notes that shipments of enterprise wearable will increase threefold to top 35 million units in...

By Wearable Tech, 24 October 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Enterprise, Eyewear, Workplace.

This ‘artificial vision’ device aims to help the visually impaired accomplish daily tasks

Picture credit: Orcam My Eye

A newly developed ‘artificial vision’ wearable technology device aims to help the almost 250 million people suffering from low vision globally achieve everday tasks with more ease than using traditional assistive reading devices, according to a study presented at the latest meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

The Orcam My Eye is a hands-free device that can be clipped to eyeglasses. It features a miniature camera that sees and recognises what the...

By Wearable Tech, 19 October 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Eyewear, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness.

Smart glasses market to grow 141% in next four years

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A new report by market research firm Technavio has forecast that the global market for smart glasses will grow at CAGR of approximately 141% in 2016-2020.

The enterprises segment had the largest market share in terms of unit shipment and revenue in 2015, making up around 97% of the global market. Individual consumer shipments had a mere 2.77% market share.

The report indicates that the industry's focus remains on enterprises. Major vendors such as Microsoft, Sony, ODG, Epson,...

By Wearable Tech, 07 September 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Eyewear, Research.

New smart glasses study launched for ‘tech-infused frames’

Picture credit: VSP Vision Care/YouTube

VSP Global and the University of Southern California (USC) Center for Body Computing (CBC) are partnering to launch an important academic study and consumer pilot test involving the company’s latest version of tech-embedded eyewear, Level, which is still in a prototype mode.

Developed by VSP Global’s innovation lab, The Shop, Level incorporates a gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer that helps a wearer...

By Wearable Tech, 24 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Ecosystems, Eyewear, Research.

How wearable tech can help children with autism

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Wearable tech has grown in leaps and bounds with new features added all the time to make everyday life easier and more fun. But this new technology isn’t just fun – for children with autism, it can be a game changer. Can a bracelet, glasses, and shoelaces ensure a child is safer and happier?

Wearable tracking devices

GPS tracking is nothing new; we have it...

By Rick Delgado, 17 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Eyewear, Health Monitoring, Health & Wellness, Smartwatches.

Global smart glass market slated to grow at 20% CAGR through 2020

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The global smart glass market is being driven by a shift in demand from passive to active smart glass technology coupled by factors such as growing applications in aviation, marine, and solar power, according to Technavio.

The firm adds that the global smart glass market is anticipated to see a CAGR of close to 20% through 2020, growing from $210 million (£160.6 million) in 2015 to $520 million (£397.6 million) by 2020.

Chandrakumar Badala Jaganathan, a lead analyst...

By Wearable Tech, 10 August 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Devices, Enterprise, Eyewear.

Adoption of smart glasses technology in the enterprise steadily building

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A survey conducted by the Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance (AREA), in collaboration with Vital Enterprises, has revealed that adoption of smart glasses could benefit enterprise environments.

Where enterprises in the aerospace, automotive, life sciences and manufacturing sectors are the earliest adopters of the smart glasses technology, the survey shows that adoption of the technology is steadily building.

42% of the enterprises surveyed stated that they will adopt the...

By Wearable Tech, 23 June 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Enterprise, Eyewear, Virtual Reality, Workplace.

Erie Insurance improves work efficiency with Google Glass programme

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The insurance industry is facing a crisis of talent. Experts hold that retiring baby boomers will leave a void of 400,000 open positions to fill by 2020. Insurance training provider The Institutes revealed that in 2013 the number of employees aged 55 and older was 30% higher in insurance when compared to any other industry. Additionally, 40% of potential employees – high school students – are not keen on building a career in insurance.

In light on this scenario, Erie...

By Wearable Tech, 22 June 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Enterprise, Eyewear.