Microsoft to Google Glass: We Can Do It Better! AR Glasses Redemption Story?

Nana Yaw Jr.
3 min readFeb 27, 2024

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Microsoft AR glasses

On October 5, Microsoft submitted a patent application (pdf) for a novel method to create a pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses that, in the company’s opinion, might eventually replace smartphones.

Microsoft vs. Google AR glasses

Since the technology was initially introduced a decade ago, Google has so far failed to bring smart glasses into the mainstream due to high production costs and lackluster functionalities. After a second fruitless attempt to impress the globe, the product line was discontinued in March.

Microsoft now aims to give the technology a much-needed boost by developing AR glasses that appeal to millennials and Generation Z. The glasses’ internal charge storage and swappable battery architecture make it possible for users to continue using them after the battery has run out, allowing them to use them for extended periods even without access to a convenient charging station.

How the new battery in Microsoft’s AR glasses functions

According to the patent application, the tech giant intends to create a wearable device featuring “an electrical connector located within the module interface and a module interface located on the frame.” An electrical connector would then connect the battery to the rest of the spectacles in this scenario, making battery replacement and removal simple.

In a different design, the battery would be housed inside a removable earpiece, allowing users to use the device without a battery if they find it uncomfortable to wear for extended periods.

Microsoft’s AR ambitions

Microsoft’s patent shows its resolve to make its service stand out for the millions of users who believe the smartphone is becoming a bit stale and the time is near for the next advancement in communication, as technical difficulties continue to prevent Apple from entering the AR glass market.

As debates about return-to-office regulations continue, this technology may also alter how businesses and people define remote work. It adds a new level of human engagement by boosting productivity through a portable workstation worn around your neck, waist, or bag. By 2027, it is anticipated that the market for AR/VR smart glasses will reach $33 billion.

What else can the Microsoft specifications do?

The glasses can also be connected to other external devices like a belt, a backpack, or a necklace to unlock new computing capabilities. Microsoft submitted a patent application in May of this year for a brand-new intelligent backpack that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and can “identify objects in the environment, perform contextual tasks, access information from the cloud, and interact with other devices.”

Detachable components, including wifi, Li-Fi, solid-state drives, and extra processing power, according to Microsoft, “may be configured to extend a functionality of the device.” One or more virtual display devices employing any kind of technology would be included in the display subsystem.

A mouse, keyboard, touch screen, or game controller are examples of user input devices that would be included in an input subsystem when it is present or interfaces with it. Microsoft, which terminated support for its Windows devices in 2017, is hoping that these features could persuade users to switch from smartphones to these spectacles.

The business has made significant investments in the augmented reality market. It collaborated with Qualcomm last year to develop microchips for creating portable AR eyewear. Users can virtually meet by projecting images of themselves into one another’s headsets, thanks to the collaboration’s ability to couple the bespoke chips with the software needed to create virtual functions.

After collaborating with the German carmaker Volkswagen to pioneer the usage of the glasses in moving automobiles and implementing the HoloLens 2 project to address the drawbacks of mixed reality headsets, the company’s augmented reality glasses have been deployed in the mobility sector.

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Source: https://www.fifty7tech.com/gadgets/laptops/microsoft-ar-glasses/

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Nana Yaw Jr.

iWrite about Tech, Crypto, Apps, Fintech & other things 🔹fifty7tech.com🔹 and other niche blogs