I may be an expert on phones and tablets, but there are plenty of other exciting tech products I’ve never tried.
One pair of glasses that has intrigued me for a long time is the AR glasses, which use augmented reality to project a virtual image over the real world. They can be useful in various scenarios including gaming, education and navigation.
It’s not a new category, but it’s one I’ve always been a little intimidated by. I always imagined there would be such a steep learning curve to get the most out of it.
So when I got the chance to try out the fifth-generation Snap Spectacles at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit, I jumped at the chance. The company behind Snapchat has been making AR glasses since 2016, but this latest version is the most advanced yet.
The Spectacles have two Snapdragon processors built into them, so everything is processed on the glasses themselves. This makes them look a little chunky, but they still feel very comfortable to wear and weigh only 226 grams.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
I was still worried that I would embarrass myself while using it, but luckily I didn’t have to worry. After a quick calculation of the IPD (interpupillary distance), the on-device tutorial makes it easy to master AR, with simple pinches and taps to navigate.
Combined with the intuitive Snap OS user interface, this makes the Spectacles surprisingly easy to use, both with your hands and your voice. That includes launching and closing apps, which I did a few times while trying them out.
The first thing I got to try was a simple nature play, which added beautiful leaves and flowers to the room around me. It was a nice, quiet introduction to the Snap Spectacles.
Then there was a beatboxing game, where you punched the air in time to the beat in front of you. I was impressed with the responsiveness of the game and it was a fun way to pass the time.
On VR headsets, boxing carries a very real risk of hurting someone else or yourself. But while wearing the Snap Spectacles, you can still see your surroundings, so that’s not a problem.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Finally, there was a painting game, which really showcased Snap’s focus on collaboration. This allowed me to use my fingers to add 3D paintings anywhere in the room and then admire the other person’s creations in the same environment. If you already
But my 15 minutes with the Snap Spectacles barely scratched the surface of what they could do. In addition to a range of games, Snap OS also includes important educational and navigation tools, plus navigation. Snap wants to make it as easy as possible for developers to create apps for the platform, so it should get better over time.
Unlike some AR and VR products, the Spectacles is strongly focused on collaboration. They are also designed to be used outdoors, making them feel more like part of your real environment, rather than completely separate.
Unfortunately, the Snap Spectacles are not a viable option for consumers at this time. Anyone can join the Spectacles Developer Program and get access to the Lens Studio app, but it costs $99 per month plus tax, and you must commit for a minimum of 12 months.
Nevertheless, they provide an excellent entry point into the world of AR glasses for anyone who hasn’t tried them before. For the first time I see that it is a product that can be integrated into my daily life.