Epson announces a new generation of Moverio smart glass technology

Epson announces a new generation of Moverio smart glass technology

A decade of development for Epson’s Moverio smart glasses

Global technology firm Epson has announced its latest generation of Moverio smart glass augmented reality (AR) technology.  Ten years on from the very first Moverio smart glasses, Epson now launches the fourth generation binocular see-through Si-OLED augmented reality smart glasses.

The new Moverio range – which includes the BT-40 and BT-40S smart glasses – offers users a number of advances including a wider field of view (FOV), significantly increased HD display resolution, high contrast, improved connectivity and a more comfortable, adjustable and easy-to-wear design.

Key features of Epson’s newest smart glasses include:

• Increased display resolution - Full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080).

• Wider 34-degree field of view (FOV) - equivalent to viewing a 120" screen from a distance of 5 metres.

• Contrast ratio of 500,000:1 meaning unused display space appears truly transparent.

• New headset design with advanced weight distribution and optional nose pads for enhanced user comfort.

• Improved aesthetic design with glasses-style form factor and optional dark shades.

• USB Type-C connectivity for connection to external devices.

• Binocular, see-through Si-OLED display.

Valerie Riffaud-Cangelosi, Head of Market Development, Epson Europe, commented: “This is a proud and exciting moment for Epson as we bring to market our fourth generation of Moverio augmented reality smart glasses. We have been in the AR space for ten years now, continuously improving our offering in response to customer and developer feedback. In the last two years the technology has truly come of age as we have witnessed a significant increase in real and practical use cases for Moverio.

“The pandemic has accelerated many applications, improving remote communications to deliver better operational efficiency, reduced costs and lower carbon footprint. The newest products – the BT-40S and BT-40 – will enable even more applications to come to market as users take advantage of improved features such as greater field of view, connectivity, resolution and contrast.”

The fourth generation of Epson smart glass technology launches with the release of the BT-40 and BT-40S, each tailored to different markets as explained below.

Moverio BT-40 – available from December 2020

The Moverio BT-40 comes equipped with USB Type-C connectivity, meaning it can be connected to a range of compatible devices such as smart phones, tablets and laptops. It can be used as a secondary or extended display, similar to an external monitor or projector for personal use. The high resolution display offers crisper more vivid colours and can mirror content from connected devices.

The Moverio BT-40 has the advantage of a large, high resolution display viewable only by the wearer, ideal for non-office based users who work in public spaces, where privacy and comfort is important. The launch is also timely as the Moverio BT-40 can provide a virtual workstation, perfect for business executives adapting to modern working styles and working from home.  An added benefit is that the glasses provide an immersive experience for personal entertainment. Users can enjoy content in comfort thanks to new wearability features that ensure the glasses fit a wide range of head sizes and fit comfortably over prescription spectacles. The included nose pads are designed to help the user find the optimal fit and can be flexed to fit each individual.

These glasses will be attractive to top level executives who need to optimise their time by working and viewing confidential materials while in public spaces.

Moverio BT-40S – available from February 2021.

The new Moverio BT-40S includes the option of an Intelligent Controller running Android for custom software integration. The Moverio Intelligent Controller is compatible with Google Play and has been tailor-made for a range of commercial applications. Featuring an integrated touchscreen, customised user interfaces, expandable memory up to 2TB and IPx2 rating for durability. The controller includes built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, compass, accelerometer, gyroscope, camera, flashlight, microphone and audio jack. It also includes a high-performance rechargeable battery with up to 5 hours of video playback.

The Moverio BT-40S will especially assist ISVs to develop and upgrade new and existing applications in a range of uses such as visitor experiences, subtitling and dentistry. In particular, the new smart glasses will help:

• Museums, theme parks, heritage sites and other visitor attractions because the see-through smart glasses provide for enhanced immersive experiences without the need for AR or detection using a built-in camera.

• Theatres and cinemas who want to expand their audience reach and accessibility with better subtitling solutions using the larger visual display and improved user comfort.

• Dental practices and surgeries that will benefit from improved dental scanning solutions and patient entertainment solutions.