With "Glass Explorers" officially spreading the gospel of Google Glass from the U.S. to Europe and Oceania, "Lenovators" or "Vuzicians" may soon join them.
While users haven't been calling themselves that, just yet, Lenovo is partnering with the developers of an augmented reality headset in an effort to introduce smart glasses to China and other markets thereafter.
Lenovo, the world's largest PC manufacturer, is working with Vuzix, a U.S.-based tech vendor that specializes in AR and mobile displays.
While details of the partnership were sparse, a joint press release says the AR headsets will be co-branded by Lenovo and Vuzix when AR units ship in the fall of 2014. The release didn't reveal any plans to develop the smart frames further to reduce their $999 price tag, but Yuli Bai, VP of Lenovo Group and GM of its new business development sector, described the product and partnership as a strategic step for his company.
"Lenovo is always seeking new and innovative products that merge and integrate technology into products that offer our customers a high degree of functionality and convenience," said Bai. "The advent of wearable technologies and specifically Smart Glasses, exceeds that goal and provides a new level of mobility in computing and communications systems. As an established and leading supplier of smart glasses technology, Vuzix was an obvious choice for this strategic partnership."
The M100 headset was a bit bulkier than Google Glass, though it employed the same monocular design and was based on a version of the Android operating system. The AR headset, which was awarded Best of Innovations at the 2013 Consumer Electronic show, could receive iOS compatibility soon.
Paul Travers, chief executive officer of Vuzix, said moving into Chinese territory was a milestone for his company and wearables in general. He shared his hope that the M100 would be followed by other AR glasses.
"As Lenovo is No. 1 worldwide in supplying computers to business and the public sector and the No. 3 supplier of smart-connected devices (smartphones and tablets), we see strong market opportunities for our M100 as it was specifically designed for those markets," said Travers. "Additionally, we hope the M100 is just the first in a line of future products the companies may introduce together incorporating Vuzix' video eyewear technology for sale in China and perhaps elsewhere."
