Adding to its previously released set of video eye-wear glasses, the Wrap 1200, Vuzix is now shipping the Wrap 1200AR. The AR (Augmented Reality) part of the tag is thanks to the addition of a stereoscopic camera pair mounted on the frames, which support VGA video capture at 30 frames per second and enable the display of 3D or 2D AR content.
Retaining the familiar wrap-around look, the see-through glasses offer individual left and right eye focus and display-tilt for adjusting to your best fit. What Vuzix claim you see when you put them on is a perceived 75-inch screen, as viewed from 10 feet (3 m). The glasses support both 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios and they can display resolutions up to 720p, despite the small 853x480 WVGA resolution of the LCD panels themselves. The panels also boast a 60Hz progressive scan update rate, support 24-bit true color and provide a 35 degree diagonal field of view.
However, the mounted cameras are the most significant update to the product here. The two discrete VGA lenses each capture video in 640x480 resolution at 30 frames per second, and are recognized on Windows systems as independent USB 2.0 video cameras. This means that no special stereo drivers are required to get them up and running. The captured content can be processed on a computer with most AR content systems, such as Vuzix’s own included plug-in maxReality for Autodesk 3ds Max, before being fed back to the displays for viewing on the glasses.
As on previous models, the Wrap 1200AR comes loaded with sensors including magnetometers, accelerometers and gryos to assist with the glasses' three degrees of freedom (DOF) head tracking system. Simple tasks like controlling brightness, contrast and color values can be accessed while the users are wearing the glasses, and there’s a range of standard connectivity options available, including VGA Controller to computer via VGA or USB 2.0, and Camera Pair to computer via USB 2.0. A DVI-VGA adapter is also included.
Vuzix is providing their own software development kit (SDK) to assist third-parties in developing content that can used with the product.
The Vuzix Wrap 1200AR glasses weigh about 3 oz (85 g) and are available now for US$1,499.
The video below shows the kind of AR magic that can be created using the maxReality plug-in for Autodesk 3ds Max and viewed on the glasses.
