HYDERABAD: Computers that can be mounted on our heads seem like a concept straight out of science fiction movies. But, Steve Mann, a professor at University of Toronto, and a leader in the field of wearable computing, has been a strong advocate for the benefits of such computers for a very long time now. A company, called Meta, in collaboration with Mann, is creating glasses that can loosen the grip of Google Glass on the emerging market with its ability to merge the real and the virtual.
Meta is building headwear that can superimpose 3D content on the real world. The glasses are bulky, but the company plans to make it sleek and slim like everyday glasses that people can wear for a whole list of activities. Mann works as the chief scientist in the company founded by Ben Sand and Meron Gribetz.
The first product, the Space Glasses comes with a projectable LCD that you can see through for each eye, an infrared depth camera, and a standard colour camera, in addition to a gyroscope, accelerometer, and compass.
Space Glasses build a three dimensional model of the world, as you walk around, with the help of an algorithm that tracks flat surface in real time. It is not like augmented reality systems which needs special markers. The coordinates obtained from the tracking are sent to the computer which sends over a 3D model of your surroundings. You can use this to project a movie on a piece of paper. Various people can come at the same object from various angles, or you could have a 3D model to follow you around.
The company envisions a future where its technology will replace the regular computer and as something that people can use to work together – from architects bent over a table with their teams to design buildings, to people playing around with friends. Gribetz hopes that eventually Meta will be able to fit its technology into things that are less obvious than glasses, like an optic nerve implant.
The demo on the company’s site does promise a whole lot of activities – playing a game of virtual chess with a friend or sculpting and then 3D printing a vase.
Meta started a campaign on Kickstarter, asking people to donate to their $100,000 goal to help them manufacture the pretty awesome device. Such is the reception that they easily managed to raise almost double the amount. If you want one, go to their website https://www.getameta.com and order one for $667.
