SMART GLASSES REQUIRE SMART SOLUTIONS

>> Image - “Smart Technology is going to replace smart phones.” - from the DailyDot.com opinion blog, Apr 9, 2014, Emmanuel Lund

Mark Mattison-Shupnick, ABOMBrad Main, ABOC, FNAO

ROCHESTER OPTICAL - September 2014

Welcome to the intersection of technology and eyewear. Not that both lenses and frames aren’t already digital and high tech. However, the rapidly emerging field of wearable technology has set sights on eyeglasses and the result is, smart glasses and electronic eyewear require smart solutions. Technology and eyewear are inextricably tied, after all, the average computer or mobile device user is online at least a third of their day, some as much as 10 hours. That puts special demands on having the right eyewear. In fact, from eMarketer (Aug 2013), “the average adult will spend over 5 hours per day online, on non-voice mobile activities or with other digital media this year. Daily TV time will actually be down slightly this year (to 4:31 hours), while digital media consumption will be up 15.8%.”

The article went on to say. “The most significant growth area is on mobile. Adults will spend an average of 2 hours and 21 minutes per day on non-voice mobile activities, including mobile internet usage on phones and tablets—longer than they will spend online on desktop and laptop computers, and nearly an hour more than they spent on mobile last year.” Now, combine eyewear and online demands. Does it tickle the consumers’ interest in putting the two together? It does!

Think about the viewing distances of mobile devices and the demands it puts on accommodation and convergence. In fact, it turns out that some progressive wearers no longer want better intermediates but in fact prefer better near because of the amount of time and ‘up close’ demand of their mobiles. Therefore, what is “normal” is changing again. It’s not surprising that many consumers want to combine their mobile device with something that they are already wearing.

SMARTPHONES REPLACED BY WEARABLES?

There are some that expect that by 2020 smartphones will be replaced by smart contact lenses, eyewear, watches and in-ear audio plugs that communicate with wearable computers. See this illustration below from the April 2014 dailydot.com blog by Emmanuel Lund. It states that wearable tech will replace smartphones. It describes how the combination of technologies will enhance the wearer’s abilities. That’s amazing since there will be an estimated 1.6 billion smartphones shipped by 2018. In the same period, 112 million wearables are expected. Regardless of whom we believe, the numbers of wearables will be substantial and doctors, opticians and para-optometrics need to understand, beginning today, how to think about wearables.

WEARABLES

We expect that eyeglasses and contact lenses will deliver a rich variety of augmented information. And, that suggests the much larger audience of consumers. Consumers are already contacting ECPs about vision-enhanced wearables, Smart Glasses, and “Bingo”, that’s the opportunity.

Wearable technologies are growing fast. Most have read about the explorer’s experiences with Google Glass, many have seen the Recon products that add GPS and measure speed to snow goggles. MetaPro (https://www.spaceglasses.com/), Vuzix, Google, EPSON, Recon and others will open a variety of new doors to the way that we think about eyewear. In each case, these glasses make mobile computing accessible through your eyewear.

This paper will give you a way of thinking about wearables using three broad categories, smart glasses and, augmented and virtual eyewear, (though over time, the differences we expect will become more blurred). However, it’s a good way for you to describe their differences to customers, and then, help them acquire their prescription for each. Smart eyewear will be part of an estimated $30B market (Fig 1, Wearable World News), affecting both the lifestyle, health/fitness and entertainment wants of consumers. However, prescription eyeglasses have their own unique characteristics that can complicate the effective use of smart

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eyewear. Therefore, with knowledge of wearables and the ECPs knowledge of prescription eyewear, it makes the ECP the best suited to adopt and deliver smart glasses to the public. What can ECPs do uniquely in their practices to fuel customer satisfaction and practice growth with smart eyewear? First, understand the categories.

WEARABLES 1 – Smart Glasses/Goggles

Smart Glasses are just that – eyewear that includes a wearable computer and heads up display (HUD). They may or may not also include a prescription as part of the basic frame or as a convenient add-on as well as audio and phone connectivity.

Google Glass is an example of Smart Glasses that includes all of these features. The HUD visually delivers a screen that can contain many of the same items as your mobile computing device, your smart phone. location, text, directions, photos, videos, live chat and other activities make Smart Glasses an integrated part of day to day activities.

Examples of HUD glasses are Google Glass, Samsung’s Gear Blink and Vuzix M100. A longer list is included below. In the sports eyewear side of the business, Recon Jet and Oakley Airwave, amongst others that add a HUD to snowboarding goggles. In this way, the user has instant access to speed, performance stats, airtime, vertical feet, music and smartphone connectivity.

WEARABLES 2 - Augmented Reality Eyewear

Augmented reality is a live, direct or indirect view of the real world (thanks Wikipedia). One might think that smart glasses are also augmented reality but we’ll make the distinction that augmented is a display that is embedded within the lens rather than a separate attached HUD. As Atheer Labs describes, “See-through displays allow for 3D digital content to be positioned exactly where it needs to be to seamlessly blend in with the real world objects.”

>> Figure 1 - http://wearableworldnews.com/2014/05/06/wearable-world-tax-onomy/

>> Image - EPSON MOVERIO BT-200

>> Image - Vuzix M100

Any variety of things can be seen or information delivered in an augmented lens. For example, that might be an application for nursing where the glasses deliver the real view of the patient with name and vital signs displayed, medications prescribed, when administered, allergies, etc. Bluetooth delivers this information wirelessly to the display screen embedded in the lenses. A jet engine mechanic using the same technology could consult a manual, supervisor or manufacturer in another country in real time. You might be walking on the street in Quito Ecuador and have a craving for Ceviche. If there is connectivity with the Internet, just consult your glasses like Innovega describes. “¡buen provecho”.

Consumers that wear prescriptions will think of your office when thinking smart glasses or augmented reality eyewear, are you ready? Table 1 summarizes the augmented reality offerings. Remember that this list is ‘a snapshot in time’ so come back to Rochester Optical for the most current list of products that can be Rx’d.

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If you are a gamer, the opportunity to be immersed in a virtual world is exciting. Watching a movie without outside distractions is a new experience, more 3D like without the discomfort that some have with 3D.

WEARABLES 3 - Virtual Reality

The third category is virtual reality eyewear, defined as “…immersive multimedia, in a computer-simulated environment that simulates a physical presence in places in the real world or imagined worlds” (Wikipedia). In this eyewear, the outside world is excluded. This gives the wearer the sense of a new environment. Examples of virtual reality eyewear are Oculus Rift, Zeiss Cinemizer and Avegant Glyph.

NAME SOURCE FUNCTION BENEFITS/APPLICATION RX/FILTER

Google Glass Available Personal Simple Easy UI Varies/RX/Safety Shields

Vuzix M100 Available Enterprise/Prosumer Work unit for enterprise to warehouse Varies/RX/Safety Shields

Recon Jet Available Sport Track time/Speed/Receive information Special Screens

Skully Helmets Available Motorcycle GPS/Review Mirror/Navigation Special Screens

Samsung Gear Blink Released - Sept. 14 Personal Google Glass Rival Varies/TBD

Epiphany Released Personal Notifications/Photos Varies/RX

Pivothead Available Personal/Sport Video Glasses Varies/RX

Oakley Airwave Available Sport Speed/Analytics/Navigation/ et al Special Screens

Ion Available Personal Notifications Varies/RX

Augmented Reality

Epson Moverio BT-200 Available Enterprise/Entertainment/Office Full AR with binocular screens/3D Varies/RX/VR Shield

Golden-I Available Enterprise Full AR/Monocular RX/Safety Shields

LaForge ICIS Available Personal Notifications/GPS RX

Virtual Reality

Epson Moverio BT-200 Available Enterprise/Entertainment/Office Full AR with binocular screens/3D RX/VR Shield

Oculus Rift Available Personal/Gaming Full VR/3D RX

Zeiss Cinemizer Available Personal/Gaming VR/3D RX

Meta Available Personal VR/3D RX

Atheer One Available Enterprise Full VR/3D RX

Avegant Glyph Available Consumer/Mobile Theater Full VR/3D & Stereo Sound RX

Innovega Optik Available Consumer VR/3D RX

>> TABLE 1 - Smart, Augmented & Virtual Reality Eyewear

THE PROFESSIONAL’S OPPORTUNITY

Like every product that involves vision, there is a complex set of requirements required to fit every person successfully. Prescription, lens surface design, centering and fitting characteristics all affects the resulting vision. As a result, there are some not-so-good side effects of smart glasses. Eye Care Professionals (ECP) report a variety of visual maladies similar to other digital devices like the digital eyestrain from tablets and smartphones. They include but are not limited to eye fatigue, eye strain, difficulty re-focusing at far distances and blur in lenses that can’t seem to be avoided. In many cases, smart glasses require a particular line of gaze and the resulting prismatic effects and off axis aberrations that exist in some lenses. This

is especially true in single vision lenses or high powers and/or oblique cylinders and progressives, especially in front surface and non-optimized designs. These aberrations can contribute to dissatisfaction with smart glass performance.

For example, this illustration shows the effects of prescription, on the resulting progressive delivered to a patient. One can see how distance, near and peripheral vision are compromised with power, cyl and axis. The successively darker zones of blue are areas of increasing blur. As it turns out, prescriptions in traditional front surface progressives (even the most

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expensive) corrupt the clear fields of view.

Now, consider the centering requirements for good optics through eyewear as well as eye positions required to best utilize smart eyewear and we have a potential problem. New, optimized and customized lenses reduce the off-axis effects in single vision and progressives. Digital measurements of the position of wear can further refine the delivered Rx but the resulting design must match the positioning demands of the eyewear.

>> Image - Vision through various prescriptions is changed when using a traditional fixed front surface progressive and adding an oblique cylinder to the lens’ back surface. The resultant power corrupts the clear fields of view. Illustrations, by Darryl Meister

>> Image - Impact on vision through various prescriptions when looking at HUD.

>> Image - New optical center in the location in the HUD viewing position

Lastly, there is concern for the accumulated effects of UV and HEV (Blue-violet light) radiation emitted by devices today since we understand that it is the accumulation that creates vision problems later in life. While both are outdoor sunlight issues, blue-violet light is also of concern indoors considering age related macular degeneration (AMD). In addition, the emitted blue-turquoise light of tablets and smartphones has been linked to problems with sleep patterns. Continued analysis of these devices is needed, especially as these devices mature in the marketplace.

Rx’ING SMART GLASSES

Smart Glasses bring data and Internet access to a heads-up display (HUD). It shifts vision from a computer screen, tablet or smart phone to a wearable device and places the screen image in the field of vision. That means that looking at a GPS while walking does not require taking one’s eyes off the road.

However, if you wear a prescription, your lenses may compromise vision through to the HUD. The illustration shows that different prescriptions can affect vision in the upper quadrant where access to the screen image is needed. Here, it’s as if we are looking at the wearer, we’ve reversed the screen letters for convenience.

From the MAIL Online, 19 May 2014, “…Users have complained of headaches and sharp pains caused by the device, which places a small screen at the top right of the user’s field of vision. Google’s medical adviser says the problem is because of the placement of the screen, and warned new users to ‘take it easy’ as they adjust.”

That’s step two actually – take it easy, step one was to anticipate any prescription issues before the eyewear is delivered.” In the optical business, new products often have prescription limitations. That typically slows the adoption of the product since we might have to disappoint patients at some point in the sale. If one can anticipate the blur from lenses, then optimization of design can produce prescription lenses that work.

A SMART GOLD SOLUTION

Rochester Optical has introduced a prescription lens solution for smart glasses, called Smart GOLD, for those problems viewing the HUD through prescription lenses. GOLD is an acronym for Glasses Optimized Lens Designs. The optimization of the lens’ design considers fitting requirements and the prescription so the visual experience is enhanced for wearers of smart eyewear, including Google Glass. More than just prescription lenses, GOLD is custom-designed for the challenging vision demands of viewing the HUD in smart glasses.

Each lens is digitally engineered using ray tracing software to adjust the design for a variety of power and fitting parameters, uniquely for the right and left eye. In the case of Google Glass, the HUD is viewed through a prescription lens but is only located in the upper right quadrant of the right eyewire. For example, it’s common for the lens’ optical center to be as much as 30mm (or more) away from the point through the lens to view the HUD. If the right eye were a -4.00D sphere the prism induced at that point is as much as 12Δ (prism diopters).

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>> Image - The GOLD Optimization area on Google Glass is in the right upper corner of both lenses. This is to optimize the lens for the HUD position. On other wearables where the HUD is left or right placement, GOLD lenses are placed and optimized for those viewing areas.

>> Image - Rochester Optical has the widest RX range available for Smart Glasses.

The Smart GOLD solution is to create an additional optical center in the location where the HUD will be viewed. This mitigates the induced prismatic effect at that point of the lens. Additionally, the area surrounding this secondary focal point is further optimized to reduce the off axis aberrations that are associated with the lens’ peripheral optics.

Smart GOLD also addresses the same area of the lens for the opposite eye, however the intent of the design for this lens is to compensate the area’s optics to respect and support balanced binocular vision.

DIGITAL MANUFACTURING

Digital manufacturing delivers production accuracy of both design and prescription far beyond the capabilities of conventional prescription fabrication. This technology delivers an optimized prescription over the entire lens surface, calculated and cut in ±0.01D increments. That ensures that the lens power is correct for the moving eye especially in the HUD access zone. Each right and left lens is calculated separately considering prescription, axis, lens size and shape and the patient’s fitting measurements required.

AVAILABILITY

Because of digital manufacturing, Smart GOLD lenses are available in the prescription range of -12.00D to +8.00D with cylinders to -4.00D. Choose from single vision, flat top 28 bifocals or Smart GOLD digital progressives. Add powers +0.75D to +3.50D for multifocals. SV and Smart GOLD digital progressive lenses can be created in1.50 plastic, Trivex, 1.60 and 1.70 high index in clear, polarized or photochromic.

CONCLUSION

Almost two thirds of the adult population requires some form of vision correction. And, that same population accesses a mobile device daily, some as many as, what seems, all waking hours.

With all the functionality and usability of Smart Glasses it is expected that many consumers will want to combine the need for prescription eyewear with the functionality of a mobile device. Without corrective lenses for these devices many users won’t experience their full potential. However, the right corrective lenses can make a difference. Smart GOLD lenses and designs can provide a fix for the negative visual experiences experienced by prescription lens wearers. Smart Glasses require smart solutions.

• Mark Mattison-Shupnick is a Master Optician and currently the Director of Education and Training for Jobson Medical Information LLC

• Brad Main is an ABO-certified Optician, Fellow in the National Academy of Opticianry and Education and Training Manager for Rochester Optical

• Special thanks to Tim Moore for his invaluable contribution to this paper. Tim is a Marketing Strategist and Wearable Technology expert at Rochester Optical

Rochester Optical: Rochester Optical is an independently owned and operated manufacturer and wholesaler of quality eyewear and lenses for smart glasses, fashion glasses, military glasses, and specialty glasses. Additionally, we are a full service optical lab. For over 80 years, RO has proudly served men and women in uniform. RO also serves ECPs, corporate customers, and our local community. We believe in innovation and forward thinking. Since 2010, Rochester Optical has invested in R&D for development of the latest technology in the optical field. RO is proud to introduce Smart Solutions, the Smart GOLD prescription lenses and Smart Frames for smart glasses.

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GLOSSARY OF WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY TERMSAberrations Focusing errors produced by a lens that prohibit proper image formation.

Accelerometer An accelerometer measures the acceleration an object experiences relative to free fall. Accelerometers can, for instance, be used to measure vehicle acceleration. In most smartphones, the accelerometer is used to present landscape or portrait views of the device’s screen, based on the way the device is being held.

Ambient Intelligence (AmI) Ambient intelligence refers to electronic environments that are sensitive and responsive to the presence of people: for instance, lights turning on and off depending on presence of people or movement.

Augmented Reality (AR) Augmented reality is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. Examples of AR technology are AR Glasses, such as Google Glass.

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR)

A Speech recognition (ASR) is the translation of spoken words into text.

Bluetooth Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short-wavelength radio transmissions in the ISM band from 2400-2480 MHz) from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security.

Body Area Network (BAN) Also called Body Sensor Network (BSN)

A body area network, also referred to as a wireless body area network (WBAN) or a body sensor network (BSN), is a wireless network of wearable computing devices.

Digital Watermark A digital watermark is a kind of marker covertly embedded in a noise-tolerant signal such as audio or image data. It is typically used to identify ownership of the copyright of such signal.

Electroencephalography (EEG) EEG is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp.

E-Textiles E-textiles are fabrics that enable digital components (including small computers) and electronics to be embedded in them.

First Person View (FPV) Also known as remote-person view (RPV), or simply video piloting, is a method used to control a radio-controlled vehicle from the driver or pilot’s view point.

Fitnessware Wearable devices worn to promote fitness. Examples: the Jawbone Up and Fitbit Flex.

Gesture Based Technology Gesture technology aims to interpret the meaning of human gestures via mathematical algorithms. Gestures can originate from any bodily motion or state but commonly originate from the face or hand.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

GPS is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.

Haptic Technology Haptic technology, or haptics, is a tactile feedback technology which takes advantage of the sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, or motions to the user. The most prevalent use of haptic technology is the vibrator in cellphones and smartphones.

HUD Heads up display. See also Optical Head-Mounted Display

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

Human-computer interaction involves the study, planning, and design of the interaction between humans and computers.

Immersive Technology Immersive technology refers to technology that blurs the line between the physical world and a simulated world, thereby creating a sense of immersion. Realistic video games are the most prevalent example.

Interactive Whiteboards (IWB) An interactive whiteboard (IWB), is a large interactive display that connects to a computer. A projector projects the computer’s desktop onto the board’s surface where users control the computer using a pen, finger, stylus, or other device. The board is typically mounted to a wall or floor stand.

Internet of Things (IOT) The Internet of Things refers to uniquely identifiable objects and their virtual representations in an Internet-like structure.

Location Awareness Location awareness refers to devices that can passively or actively determine their location.

Nanotechnology Nanotechnology (sometimes shortened to “nanotech”) is the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale.

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Natural language processing is a field of computer science, artificial intelligence, and linguistics concerned with the interactions between computers and human languages. Natural Language Processing aims to enable human beings to use language naturally when engaging with a computer system.

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Natural User Interface (NUI) A Natural User Interface is a user interface that is effectively invisible, or becomes invisible with successive learned interactions, to its users, and is based on nature or natural elements. Examples of natural user interfaces: engaging devices by speaking or through gesture.

Near Field Communication (NFC)

Near field communication is a set of standards for smartphones and similar devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching them together or bringing them into close proximity, usually no more than a few inches.

Optical Head-Mounted Display (OHMD)

Optical head-mounted display is a wearable display that has the capability of reflecting projected images as well as allowing the user to optically see-through it.

Quantified Self (Also called Auto-Analytics )

The Quantified Self is a movement to incorporate technology into data acquisition on aspects of a person’s daily life in terms of inputs (e.g. food consumed, quality of surrounding air), states (e.g. mood, arousal, blood oxygen levels), and performance (mental and physical). Such self-monitoring and self-sensing, which combines wearable sensors (EEG, ECG, video, etc.) and wearable computing, is also known as lifelogging. Other names for using self-tracking data to improve daily functioning are “self-tracking”, “auto-analytics”, “body hacking” and “self-quantifying”.

Quick Response Code (QR Code) QR code is an optically machine-readable label that is attached to an item and that records information related to that item.

Real Virtuality Real Virtuality describes the potential for technology to become seamlessly integrated with the pre-existing world, like achieving a certain status in a video game.

Sentient Computing Sentient Computing is a form of ubiquitous computing which uses sensors to perceive its environment and react accordingly.

Smartwatch A Smartwatch or smart watch is a computerized wristwatch with functionality enhanced beyond timekeeping, often with features comparable to a PDA.

Task Computing Task Computing is a computation to fill the gap between tasks (what user wants to be done), and services (functionalities that are available to the user). Task computing seeks to redefine how users interact with and use computing environments.

Text to Speech (TTS) Text to Speech is the artificial production of human speech. A computer system used for this purpose is called a Speech Synthesizer and can be implemented in software or hardware products. A text-to-speech (TTS) system converts normal language text into spoken speech and meaningful sounds (laughter).

Ubiquitous Computing (Also called Everyware or Pervasive Computing)

In Ubiquitous Computing computing is made to appear everywhere and anywhere. In contrast to desktop computing, ubiquitous computing can occur using any device, in any location, and in any format.

User Experience (UX) Involves a person’s behaviors, attitudes, and emotions about using a particular product, system or service. User experience includes the practical, experiential, affective, meaningful and valuable aspects of human-computer interaction and product ownership. Additionally, it includes a person’s perceptions of system aspects such as utility, ease of use and efficiency. User experience is dynamic as it is constantly modified over time due to changing usage circumstances and changes to individual systems as well as the wider usage context in which they can be found.

User Interface (UI) The space where interactions between humans and machines occur. The goal of this interaction is effective operation and control of the machine on the user’s end, and feedback from the machine, which aids the operator in making operational decisions.

Virtual Reality (VR) Virtual reality is a computer-simulated environment that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world or imagined worlds.

Voice Biometrics Voice Biometrics is technology that enabled the recognition and identification of the person who is speaking by characteristics of their voices.

Voice User Interface An interface between a human and a device (computer, smartphone, wearable device) that is mediated by sound, mainly spoken speech.

Wearable Computer Wearable computers are miniature electronic devices that are worn with or on top of clothing.

Wearable Technology Wearable technology or fashion electronics are clothing and accessories incorporating computer and advanced electronic technologies.

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GLOSSARY OF WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY TERMS

SOURCES:

Google Glass: https://www.google.com/glass/start/what-it-does/; Vuzix M100: http://www.vuzix.com/smart-glasses/; Recon Jet: http://reconinstruments.com/products/jet/; Skully Helmet: http://bit.ly/1pdpHdG; Samsung Gear Blink: http://bit.ly/1pdjONs; Microsoft: http://on.wsj.com/1pdo3sl; Epiphany: http://www.epiphanyeyewear.com/; Pivothead: http://www.pivothead.com/; Oakley Airwave: http://www.oakley.com/en/product/W0OO7049; ION: http://bit.ly/1sAtNwI; GlassUp: http://www.glassup.net/; EPSON Moverio: http://bit.ly/1pdkqmo; Golden-I: http://www.mygoldeni.com/; Laforge: http://www.laforgeoptical.com/; Oculus Rift: http://www.oculusvr.com/; Zeiss Cinemizer: http://www.zeiss.com/cinemizer-oled/en_de/home.html; Meta Superglasses: https://www.spaceglasses.com/; Atheer Labs: https://www.atheerlabs.com/; Avegant Glyph: http://avegant.com/; Innovega Optik: http://innovega-inc.com/index.php; Sony Morpheous: http://bit.ly/1pdnTkU; InfinitEye: http://vrwiki.wikispaces.com/InfinitEye+V2

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