Companies are all scrambling to create the iPhone of AI devices; the device to revolutionize the market. So far, we’ve seen some pretty spectacular failures, but that hasn’t stopped people from trying. Well, the Halliday Smart Glasses just might be the device to end the curse that’s plaguing AI devices.
Devices like the AI Pin and the Rabbit R1 stand as the biggest examples of AI devices that face-planted right into the ground. While the ideas around them are interesting, they ultimately failed to do what they set out to do. These were devices that aimed to reduce the amount of time you spend on your smartphone. We’ve seen other AI devices launch, or at least got an announcement, that have yet to turn heads.
The Halliday Smart Glasses merge AR and AI
Let’s face it, most of the new wearable devices that companies come out with going forward will have some focus on AI. It’s the latest thing in technology, so you know that companies are banking on it.
So, what makes these glasses great? Well, they’re designed to make accessing AI much more seamless. Like other devices, they come with a built-in microphone to pick up on live speech. Using them, you can contact AI models and receive verbal responses through the speakers hidden within the temple.
So, if you need to look up answers to a question in the middle of a conversation, you can do that. Also, if you need to translate a conversation on the spot, that’s also a possibility. These things are all pretty much par for the course among AI devices, so what makes the Halliday Smart Glasses stand out?
It’s the Invisible Display. Most smart glasses have a separate display that’s draped over your eyes and others project onto your lenses. However, Halliday has another solution. The company put a tiny projector into the frame that actually shoots the screen directly into your eyes. So, you’ll see a small micro-display floating right in front of your vision. It’s pretty discreet, so they won’t stand out as much as typical smart glasses.
Using these glasses
Using the Halliday Smart Glasses is pretty simple. You can use gestures on the frames. That’s seamless enough, but if you want an even more seamless experience, you can pair the glasses with the included smart ring and use that to cycle through menu items. Imagine navigating through an interface and selecting items by just using a simple gesture on your finger.
As for the battery life, you can expect to use them all day. The company claims that you can get up to 12 hours on a single charge. That’s not bad; we’re sure that people won’t need to use smart gestures for more than 12 hours out of the day. However, it can be a bit inconvenient if you get prescription lenses installed. If your vision is bad, and you need to take the glasses off to charge them, it might be an issue.
If you need to charge the glasses, you can use a USB-C cord. We’re not sure how long it takes to charge the Halliday Smart Glasses from 0% to 100%, but Halliday stated that “just 45–60 minutes at the end of each day ensures they’re ready whenever you are to tackle another day.” So, you shouldn’t expect too much downtime.
Another thing to note is that there are no cameras on these glasses. This means that you won’t have to worry about privacy.
The campaign
Here’s the deal, you’ll need to temper your expectations just a little, as this is a Kickstart project. As with any Kickstarter, you’ll need to know that there’s not a 100% guarantee that the product will be delivered. Be that as it may, the company has been able to send prototypes out to YouTubers such as Some Gadget Guy (Juan Bagnell), Ben’s Gadget Reviews, and Stu’s Review. Those are tested figures in the tech industry, so that’s a plus.
The company gained coverage from CNET at CES 2024. Other notable sources covering these glasses include Techradar, Digital Trends, and TechCrunch.
How much do these cost
If you want back this project and receive a pair, there’s an early bird special going on right now for $399. Without the special, it will run you back $489. The package included the glasses, a control ring, a case, a charging cable and charging case for the ring, and a cleaning cloth.
Halliday expects this device to land sometime in April this year and in three colors: Black, Tortoise (Brownish), and Gradient (Grayish).
Picking up a two-pack will cost you $768 with the early bird special. You’ll basically be saving $30 if you buy a two-pack as opposed to buying two pair separately. Without the early bird special, it will cost $978.
A three-pack will cost $1,152 (saving $45) with the early bird special and $1,467 without. A four-pack costs $1,536 ($1,956) and a five-pack costs $1,920 ($2,445).
Problem solved
Glasses like these solve one of the issues plaguing AI devices. They seamlessly integrate into your life. You won’t have to take a separate device out of your pocket or project a screen on your hand just to use them. They beam a screen right into your eyes, so you’ll be able to use them just by looking up. While we’re still a while away from the future we all dream about, the Halliday Smart Glasses seem to be a step in the right direction.
