Wearables

Laster SeeThru smart glasses have one eye on privacy

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SeeThru is a new augmented reality smart glass from Laster
Some of SeeThru's features
Navigation with SeeThru
Navigation with SeeThru
SeeThru's sailing instrumentation app
A head-up display for pilots
Local information provided via SeeThru
Local information provided via SeeThru
Information provided to SeeThru for para-gliders
A SeeThru app to help find locations for skateboarding
SeeThru is a new augmented reality smart glass from Laster
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Laster Technologies, a French company that specializes in "mobile informative eyewear," is raising money via a Kickstarter campaign to roll-out its new SeeThru smart glasses. SeeThru differs from many other smart glasses by shunning a camera in a bid to protect the privacy of those around the user.

The company positions SeeThru as "wireless augmented reality eyewear." According to Laster, the device uses the processing power of the user’s smartphone, to which it connects via Bluetooth. Images and information are then relayed to SeeThru’s lens.

SeeThru can be used to take calls, listen to music and display e-mails, text messages, contact data and other text. In addition to this standard functionality, Laster is developing a number of apps for use in a variety of activities.

Satellite navigation and hands-free apps will be available and so too will apps for more specific uses. A sailing instrumentation app will allow users to track boat speed, wind speed and direction, a head-up display app for flying will allow pilots to monitor airplane instrumentation, and an app for para-gliders will display flight information such as air speed, ground speed and acceleration.

SeeThru's sailing instrumentation app

Laster claims that the SeeThru offers the best image quality on the market and a vision field that is 2-3x larger than that of Google Glass. Resolution is 800 x 600 pixels and the aspect ratio can be set to 4:3 or 16:9. As most of the processing power is done by the user’s phone, SeeThru will reportedly last for 6 to 8 hours on a single charge, plus production costs are minimized.

SeeThru features three gyroscope sensors, accelerometers and compasses, GPS tracking, head tracking and built-in audio.

Laster is not alone in the smart glass market, with releases or updates announced from a variety of companies in the last couple of weeks alone, including Epson, Vuzix and Pivothead. The company itself was established in 2005 and claims to have pioneered much of the glass technology used in similar devices.

You can find our more about SeeThru in the video below.

Sources: Laster, Kickstarter

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9 comments
The Skud
Sounds like see-through VR to me. Still needs a camera though, there could be an app that "pixelates" other users whose device transmits a privacy code? Something like the opposite effect to the increasing number of gadgets designed to like-minded people can link up at parties?
martinkopplow
Don't think this NEEDS a camera. Precise position sensors would be enough. I'd be much happier indeed if it had no camera.
People who believe everything they do or see is worth recording take themselves much too serious: A recorded view only makes sense if there will ever be someone to watch it. Wearing a camera turns an active individual into a mere spectator.
The AR features, though, add to the experience. Being a pilot, I could make good use of them, and I can imagine tons of other use cases worth evaluating.
djdude1327
Can these glasses be used with Apple IPad AIR tablet?
Thx, djdude1327
Bryan Paschke
For certain uses, specifically mechanical vr and object recognition, the camera would be a must. It's not about recording, it's about fully utilizing vr. It's about being able to highlight the part that you're wanting to replace or the car that you're approaching way too fast. I wouldn't mind a pair of these if they're cheap, but, ultimately, they'll be crippled vr at best.
jeffrey
Can you get them with prescription lenses?
Stephen N Russell
Like to use these for motorbike riding, to see car GPS when driving with top down, for boating, sailing alone & for Night Combat Games & add IR to devices. Must produce for normal vision & for prescription alone.
Be awesome to read Clive Cussler novel & glasses can pull up maps & tech of vehicles etc in novel while Im reading, Super awesome
Gerald Nacache
@Jeffrey yes you can wear the SeeThru with your prescription lenses or eyewear
dalroth5
Oh dear. That first picture shows something which might not look stupid...but if you visit their kickstarter page, the actual product is even uglier than google's. What were they thinking?
Chizzy
totally needs a camera. i want to be able to look at people and it have them tell me their names. limit it to my personal database of contacts if you must, but i'm terrible with names. if it wants to give me an immersive world experience, then it needs to be able to see what I see regardless of privacy worries. It needs to know if i'm at the grocery store, and if i pick up something that has a bad reputation, or is known to source ingredients unethically, i want to be alerted, so i can make informed choices, without having to spend hours researching. the point of an immersive life overlaying VR is to take the data that the world is increasingly making available, and sorting it out to deliver it when you need it, and when it actually applies.