Google's first crack at smart glasses came to a halt when the company stopped selling them back in January. While the rumored Google Glass 2.0 is said to decrease eye strain many complained its predecessor caused, many consumers may still think that this technology is too in your face to wear every day.
However, VSP Global's innovation lab The Shop has developed smart glasses that are equipped with activity trackers that are giving consumers a stylish option that isn't Google Glass.
VSP's Project Genesis eyeglasses are equipped with activity trackers that are built inside the frame on the left arm so that consumers can track their steps in style. The eyeglasses include an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer to track steps, calories burned, activity time and distance through sensors located in the earpiece of the frames.
Bringing a new meaning to wearables, users connect the smart glasses to an accompanying app via Bluetooth technology to monitor their health stats. It also has a rechargeable battery with a battery life of four days.
Project Genesis eyeglasses include a matte black frame, created by Dragon Alliance, that looks stylish enough to sport every day.
"We're looking at a really exploding market in the wearable space," VSP Global CEO Jim McGrann told the Wall Street Journal. "One of our businesses is an eyewear company, and we're focused on building those wearables into the eyewear that people wear every day to improve their overall health and wellness.
While Project Genesis eyeglasses can track steps, the team has bigger plans for the technology. They have plans to add more sensors and adjust the overall design of the prototype.
"Ultimately, this is not about just tracking steps and calories," project lead Jay Sales said in a press release. "The goal with this project is to build on these initial capabilities and, in the future, provide our members with contextual health data about themselves that they can then use to feel empowered and make better decisions in their lives."
The eyeglasses are currently in the early phase of testing, with 26 employees currently tracking their activity using the wearable. The company has plans to expand the program to including testing on consumers outside of its employees.
Via: Technology Review
