IDTechEx Research: Smartglasses Teardown

Copyright © 2016 IDTechEx | www.IDTechEx.com
Smartglasses
Teardown
Enabling Technologies for
Eye-Worn Computing
Dr Harry Zervos, Principal Analyst, IDTechEx

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Helping you profit from
Emerging Technologies
New IDTechEx Research Report
AR & VR Smartglasses and Functional
Contact Lenses 2016-2026
From augmented and virtual reality
headsets to the advent of embedded
electronic functionalities in lenses
For more information visit
www.idtechex.com/glasses

Components for eye-worn devices

Interfacing with computers undergoes a constant evolution, allowing for wider adoption as
interaction becomes more “natural”.
From keyboards to touchscreens to cameras & positioning/location/infrared sensors, a new wave
of innovation is making interfacing with computers gesture-based, with significant advances in
voice recognition also .
Google’s project Soli, Microsoft 10 incorporating holographic interaction software, Augmented
Reality (AR) eye-worn computers from Vuzix and Atheer Labs and Virtual Reality (VR) headsets
like the Fove are integrating gesture recognition, eye-tracking etc. in order to control/interact with
new computer devices
Significant IP is currently being generated in this space that will prove crucial in further
commercialization of devices, that will move from enterprise-oriented initial offerings towards the
larger volumes associated with consumer products
Pole position players: Google, Vuzix, Microsoft, Fove Images: Microsoft, Google ATAP
Components: User Interface

Components: Near Eye Displays (NEDs)
LCD LCoS μ-LED µ-OLED
Advantages
Most mature technology.
Widely used in projector
technology
Mature technology when
compared to µ-LED & µ-
OLED
Fast switching
ferroelectric liquid crystals
can offer improved
performance
Excellent optical
properties (brightness
& contrast)
High efficiency leading
to longer battery life
Much higher contrast
Faster response time
Wider operating
temperature range
No external illumination
Limitations
External light source
required
Color filter utilization can
reduce brightness
External light source
required in the device
architecture
Increased power
consumption
Device complexity
means this is likely to
be the most expensive
solution
Challenging to scale
up in cost-effective,
reliable way
Currently low brightness:
300 nits in viewfinder
applications
(Targeting 10,000 nits in
future generations)
Lifetime issues with
higher drive currents
Source: IDTechEx report: AR & VR Smartglasses and Functional Contact Lenses 2016-2026. www.idtechex.com/research

Components: Near Eye Displays (NEDs)
LCD LCoS μ-LED µ-OLED
Conclusion
Integrated in products
already and having achieved
volume production, there’s
a requirement for
improvements in power
consumption and brightness
in order to remain
competitive in the long term
An interest towards other
technologies in order to
improve power
consumption will lead to
requirements for improved
performance in order to
remain competitive
Excellent performance
but inherently
complicated and
expensive
Moving to scale up will
determine long-term
feasibility, recent
developments in
conversion technology
paramount.
Direct colour emission (no
RGB arrays) will enable
improved brightness and
lifetime. Early prototypes
have shown this.
Can offer superior
performance in med-long
term
Companies
Epson
Kopin
Himax
ForthDD
Holoeye
LuxVue, infiniLED
Lumiode, mLED
verLASE, Ostendo
eMAgin
microOLED
Dresden Microdisplay
Source: IDTechEx report: AR & VR Smartglasses and Functional Contact Lenses 2016-2026. www.idtechex.com/research

The first wave of wearable sensors have been adapted from other industries
Current innovation is driving a second wave, with sensors designed from scratch to be
wearable, with near-eye or on-eye requirements.
Pole position players: Bosch, Invensense, ST Micro, Texas Instruments
Components: Wearable Sensors
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Adapted from another industry Designed for wearable products
FirstwaveSecondwave
Examples:
• Dry, smart electrode systems for
monitoring potential
• Fully conformable sensors for
stretch/motion/impact sensing
• Implantable sensors
• Incorporation of multi-functional
skin patches
• Textile-based sensors and
electrodes
Wearable Sensor units sold /millions
Adapted from:

Significant improvements are required from energy technologies in order to improve
performance of “on-board” powering schemes (flexible storage devices, energy
harvesters + storage, etc. )
In many cases, the requirements come with a need for transparency (especially when
in vision path), smaller footprint, higher energy densities (in glasses also but in
contact lenses more so) in order for devices to be unobtrusive and easily integrated.
Increase in power output and flexibility in design and form factor will remain
paramount.
For now, clever design is used to overcome power output limitations (e.g. battery
packs tethered to eye-worn devices)
Image source: Epson
Pole position players: Imprint Energy, FlexEl in thin flexible batteries
Watch: LG, Samsung and Apple entering the flexing battery space also
Components: Energy Storage/harvesting

Copyright © 2016 IDTechEx | www.IDTechEx.com 1616
Thickness vs. capacity
Active
Material
Active Material
Hermetic sealing

Copyright © 2016 IDTechEx | www.IDTechEx.com 1717
Source: Imprint Energy
Wearables need pulse power!

Smart eyewear: near-eye

Consumer apps too challenging, starting with enterprise applications
When costs come down to that of a high end smart phone, the consumer market
opens up
Augmented reality (AR) smartglasses

Sleek design vs. functionalities vs. battery life (images: Kopin, Recon)
Requirements for reduced size optics that do not block the wearer’s view but do not
interfere with expected design/look of a high end product
Content: Critical!
Augmented reality (AR) smartglasses

Very different requirements to AR smartglasses.
AR headsets should not obstruct the user’s perception of reality, VR headsets should
make the user forget reality exists.
Mostly lower cost than AR as some, devices utilize the optics/sensors within smart
phones. The ones that integrate their own display/sensing/optics are more expensive
Virtual reality (VR) smartglasses

Samsung’s Gear VR headset is already on the market for only $100
Occulus Rift creating the most buzz, with a $2 Billion dollar acquisition from Facebook,
priced at $400. Has been shipping for about 1 week.
Avegant’s Glyph comes with the sleekest design at $500
Bundles affect the price consumers pay for a headset
Virtual reality (VR) smartglasses

Forecasts

Significant growth for AR Smartglasses which will reach over 100,000,000 units by
2026.
AR and VR smart glasses forecasts
Source: IDTechEx Research Report “AR & VR Smartglasses and Functional Contact Lenses 2016-2026”
(www.IDTechEx.com/glasses).
0
5E+09
1E+10
1.5E+10
2E+10
2.5E+10
2016 2019 2021 2023
AR and VR revenue forecasts (in $)
AR Total revenue ($) VR total revenue ($)
0
10,000,000
20,000,000
30,000,000
40,000,000
50,000,000
60,000,000
2016 2019 2021 2023
Forecasted unit sales for AR and VR
headsets
total AR units total VR units

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Dr Harry Zervos, Principal Analyst
h.zervos@idtechex.com

IDTechEx Research: Smartglasses Teardown

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