The future of reading books is hands free | SOL Reader

[@JasonGoodison]

I recently started listening to the audiobook and reading at the same time - which increases how much you absorb and also gives you the ability to read 2-3x faster. If you guys add a listening feature, I'd buy it in a heartbeat!

[@barbarosozturk]

This is the way! It could simply integrate with an external headphone/audio device too.

[@vetrimaaran1513]

exactly

[@rano12321]

You are reading or listening to the same book right?

[@spol]

@@rano12321how would you listen to and read two different books at the same time 😂

[@rano12321]

@@spol that's what I thought

[@abner_horn]

Love the concept, would definitely use it. Just wondering if there will be a big enough market for it - enough people who won't feel awkward wearing it. Rooting for their success!

[@GarryTan]

Thanks for the comment!

[@rishovmondal1524]

It needs to be available in cool designs, I guess that might help with adaptability.

[@george_davituri]

Nowadays it is so easy to be distracted all the noise and events that surround us and if that device gives feeling like lost in a reading to fully concentrate on book story, sounds comfy I wish to have one.

[@OwenRULESSS]

if there was an audio feature it would be truly immersive. If they have that with a solid catalogue Im committed to buying.

[@kvps27]

It looks like a really well engineered V1. I don’t think I will be a user but I reckon this will find a pretty solid product market fit. A ton of people will love it.

[@BashaDamba]

See you next year at YC

[@stevekatz4696]

“Coming to your eyes very soon”. Something new we’re going to hear publishers say. 👌

[@michaelwinter5292]

Would really love a talk/walk through or even tour of how something like this was developed? A video idea??

[@impulsesystems]

I saw your interview on the SOL site. Are there any more tech details? The display looks way lower res than current e-ink devices which are reaching 300ppi. You can see pixelation in the text in the few images I have seen. Is the light color temp fixed? Why not use a diffuser with daylight? That would be much more healthy and give it longer battery life. Where does content come from? Is it only DRM-free content for now? Cool idea but so many dollars and so many questions.

[@srslyumang]

Nice tech but it’s eradicated the main essence of reading. Holding the book , feeling the pages and actually reading the text.

[@motelejesuolamilekan1950]

definitely not the main essence. that's to get knowledge or engage your mind w fun

[@JM-st1le]

​@@motelejesuolamilekan1950100% agree

[@James-mk8jp]

Man if they made a version that could show some of what's in front of you, would be killer for long walks and runs.

[@miiaudacuscii7471]

A kind of transparency adjustment?

[@anthonyjsalcido]

I wish there was somewhere i could try it out before buying.

[@pavel.pavlov]

What about eye health?

[@gokuafrica]

I have the Xreal Air AR glasses and that does everything here and more. I have no idea why you created this to be such a niche limitation of products that are already out there that do much more!

[@dominikbuzov5094]

This is a deliberate limitation. With the Xreal Air AR, you can do everything. However, when you can do everything, you may end up doing nothing, as your brain becomes paralyzed by decision-making and other distractions. Having this device with a singular purpose in mind allows you to regain your willpower, as you can focus once again. tl;dr: Fewer options -> more focus -> better experience

[@mebude]

@@dominikbuzov5094 ''deliberate limitation'' once you're known for something, you pull the generic trigger gradually...

[@AC-id5ow]

“Need more input” - Jonny 5, Short Circuit.

[@helawn]

how do you change pages when you're reading?

[@rano12321]

Add the ability to have audio narration for each book (using AI) and in future, use AI to visualize each paragraph/sentences and add those lines as subtitles at the bottom of the visualized image or video with AI generated audio based on the context, fully mixed. That would be insane. It would be like, making a movie based on the lines of the book, like a audio book video book combined.

[@Pkron]

It would also totally destroy battery life lol

[@tuckerbugeater]

put the battery in your pocket.@@Pkron

[@aceapolonio7284]

Apple can easily destroy this startup when they make a feature on Apple Books for immersive reading experience. Imagine reading on a beach or in space with binaural or 3D audio.

[@JM-st1le]

This will be cheaper than the apple vision pro, so I think it will survive, possibly thrive if it's affordable.

[@aceapolonio7284]

@@JM-st1le Apple Vision Pro is expensive because it’s for Pros. They are going to release the cheaper versions soon.

[@James-mk8jp]

Apple isn't making an E-ink headset

[@aceapolonio7284]

@@James-mk8jpThat E-ink isn’t a UVP. Their idea is about reading isolation which Apple’s Vision and other headsets can do on top of other solutions and features. The only UVP they have which is not sustainable is that their only use is for reading. It’s like buying a calculator. Nobody needs a separate one unless your work surrounds on numbers.

[@James-mk8jp]

⁠@@aceapolonio7284sure it is. The experience of isolated reading is a lot better on the eyes with e-ink. People like kindle for that reason. Is it good enough to sustain the business long term? Who knows.

[@tzrtg]

Wonder if this will increase the onset of myopia

[@LilyEvans1996]

Good thinking

[@Tyrionhessen]

How is it different to AR and MR and VR .

[@Vaibhav-jn8os]

Kudos to the founders for building this, would love to experience! Should replace my kindle on airplanes at least. I am also building something in a parallel space that'll significantly improve readership while saving at least 1 billion+ minutes / yr for humanity. Emailed you, would really appreciate a quick read. :)

[@nursenayeneredit7251]

Garry Tan aggressively nods.

[@muslimahmood]

Please, do add an audible feature. Thus, you can read and listen.

[@TomNook.]

Focusing at arm's length is already bad for your eyesight. Doing so millimetres from your eyes is just...🥺

[@WhodatIGGY]

You aren't focusing millimeters away. When you look into it the objects are far away from your eye. So it focuses on that.

[@Tkcrypto1]

That's a myth. It doesn't actually make your eyes bad. Lol

[@SpeakMouthWords]

Of course someone with surname Nook would disparage disruptive innovation in ereaders

[@yuriy5376]

That's not how it works. The actual image you're focusing on is projected a couple of meters away

[@justinprovideo333]

How is it different than reading a book on a vr headset?

[@impulsesystems]

It looks like a lower resolution display than a VR headset or an e-ink e-reader. Tech details are rather sparse.

[@twinters8]

Very cool idea. Bro's got the same hot air station at me. Way cooler scope though.

[@patrickolsen473]

Interesting concept, but not being able to see how it looks when you put them on is really a stopper for putting any money behind it for me. The caveat being it comes from YC, but for anyone not knowing YC or that it is YC backed might make the purchasing decision harder. Secondly the website is heavy for my computer, so all the animations are lagging and making the website hard to navigate. Don't know if it's a me problem or a website problem, but thought it might be good to at least flag.

[@ssing7113]

Apple headset might dent the sales when it comes Would have loved to actually see what it would look like

[@josiahamaze]

Its not though.

[@chrystarinze]

It would also be nice if Sol reader can help those of us who prefer video learning content like this KZbin video in future roadmap. This was awesome to watch. I could also see Garry's talk on "the why of startup timing" play out practically in this video. Thank you for the video

[@dotpenji]

This wearable e-reader is truly innovative and addresses the modern distraction problem so effectively. I'm curious, besides reading, can you envision other potential applications or features that might enhance this immersive technology further in the future?

[@abigailcayetano487]

I completely agree! SOL's immersive e-reader is a game-changer. It could potentially open up new possibilities for virtual learning environments, making education more engaging and interactive. Exciting times ahead for immersive technology!

[@markanthonymanayan2136]

This SOL Reader sounds like a game-changer for book lovers like me, and I can't wait to experience the future of reading hands-free.

[@miiaudacuscii7471]

Yeah. It's also about ergonomics. You would have one more method of reading long texts. Also, it could alleviate our trouble of organizing our posture, furniture and illumination to read a paper book or tablet book. Same for staying static for hours. Or for the restrict ambience where to read paper or tablet books. And wha[ about the convenience of carrying a device similar to eyeglasses?

[@Jegber]

Can’t wait to try it!

[@nickolassiriluck1538]

This device will probably inspire me to finally re-read some books on advanced physics. We are so back

[@nathanbanks2354]

Buried on their website: 256x256 per eye resolution. I think I'll stick to a normal e-reader for now.

[@GaneshSharma-oi2ys]

Garry, what's the differentiator here. In future, if other AR headset provider chips into this domain. Would love to know your opinion on that. Thanks

[@James-mk8jp]

It's E-ink. Not like the AR headsets out there.

[@fredrik8806]

I could never read with that font. When they implement a less pixelated screen I would consider it. This is literature not game boy advance

[@abdullahaliyuw]

This is an amazing technology!

[@ttarazradasdadadadad]

I see no use for it since such device could be easily included within VR & AR products that already exist... competition is harsh and could be coming from Apple soon, I can see no future for this company

[@imjyun]

makes me wonder if they even a reader? cause no real reader will want to use it lol

[@upsidedownChad]

First

[@joseangelsanchezcastillejo3260]

i really don't get the dislikes here, this is amazing

[@MK-nj5bm]

Why would I get this over a VR headset? Sorry I don't even read and I think reading a physical book is more satisfying. Dead in the water imo..gl tho

[@bradwatton5385]

Hi garry I have sent you a request on linkedin could I have a few messages of your time ?

[@hkccp]

Oh fuck, it’s cool

[@hkccp]

Garry is gay and his channel is pretty cool