The State of Augmented Reality Hardware

Just as Apple is expected to announce its mixed reality headset, we visit this year's Augmented World Expo and demo the latest in augmented reality technologies. From monocles with micro OLEDs to a laptop with no screen at all, here are some demos that intrigued us as we enter the next phase of consumer AR.
Shot by Josh Self and edited by Norman Chan
Music by Jinglepunks
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#augmentedreality #virtualreality

[@dominicodematte]

Im excited to see what the monocle can do for cosplay, with its small size it will be so easy to fit into goggles and helmets. The future of working iron man helmets are already here

[@_guillermo]

I can’t believe the *monocle* is making a comeback

[@zyxwvut4740]

A few hipsters have been using single-use unlubricated monocles for a bit now.

[@finnvF]

So cool to see the monocle here

[@Pir-o]

shame is thicker than your blind grandma's glasses

[@anonymes2884]

It's crazy that it ever went away IMO - clearly the best form factor to get cheap, attainable, less intrusive AR out to the DIY crowd and so build a grass roots ecosystem.

[@boxhead6177]

Attach it to an over the ear cup piece... Dragonball Scouter :P

[@xethier]

As a security guy, everything i'm hearing here makes me want to run in the opposite direction, screaming.

[@YaSynAmRaUi]

Understandable!

[@bghiggy]

As someone who does long range shooting, I could see an application that is connected to a weather station to give you real time wind and ballistic data so you can stay on the gun and not have to go back and forth between your data book.

[@unknownhours]

I would love to have a multimeter with an over eye display so I can focus on holding the probes.

[@rtkiiiprod]

Thanks for continuing to provide knowledgeable VR/AR news. I do miss seeing you and Jeremy together but at least we get one of you :)

[@KazyEXE]

Tested got me into VR back in 2014/2015, always good to see more XR content from them

[@bakedbeings]

Tough brief, releasing a summary of the tech so close to a potential reconfiguring of the landscape! Nice work 👍

[@dominicodematte]

I was just researching this yesterday, so happy that yall made a video on this. 10/10 timing

[@dan5087]

Incredible! Can't wait to see where AR goes.

[@zirbs]

Need more Norm content! After the podcast sunset, Tested hasn't been the same.

[@TylerTraverse]

Thanks for the continued AR/VR coverage. Always love to tune in

[@TheBalunStormhands]

Watched this after WWDC and now I REALLY want to hear Norm's first impressions about Apple Vision Pro.

[@tatianaes3354]

Apple has just a few units ready and it takes half an hour for the first impressions, so they only provided it to a select few top tech influencers like Marques Brownlee. So it will take like half a year before we will hear about Norm’s the first impressions. That said, Apple Vision is not similar to devices from the video. And price-wise, it is more similar to Microsoft’s HoloLens they sell for $5k.

[@ElvesofZion]

I'm still waiting on 'AR' that isn't just floating displays, when it actually interacts with the world then its truly augmenting reality

[@FrazerKirkman]

can you describe what you mean? I have a lot of apps on my Quest headset that have AR that interacts with the world, like VRtuous that overlays on to my piano, or other apps where the game interacts with the world around you.

[@mabeteekay1403]

well i guess Vision pro takes the cake

[@prfit]

Tim watched this this morning and decided they gotta release today since Norm is coming

[@jamesoloughlin]

Can’t think of a better person to cover WWDC Norm. Great coverage of AWE too.

[@tested]

Right?!

[@Veptis]

I rely on your coverage for the Apple product they will show today.

[@deefdragon]

That AR laptop looks like a godsend if you are traveling a lot and need to do work on a plane. I always run into issues of not having enough space to fold out my laptop screen comfortably when on a plane, I feel like that would solve many problems there. I do agree that it needs to be a separable headset tho.

[@michaelb4512]

Will the crossfire glasses be able for public to purchase and not just headset co. and do you know when they will be available?THANKYOU!

[@gbub]

Boy did apples announcement make majority of these devices look ancient

[@PSYCHOV3N0M]

Yup 😂😂😂 and I'm an Android/Windows user mind you.

[@FalconsTech]

I didn't even know this was a thing! Cool to see it covered.

[@SierraSierraFoxtrot]

It's important to note Sightful's "spacetop" in it's current configuration is a limited release, only a thousand units to early adopters so they can fine tune the design and UX.

[@justinbaker2883]

This was great norm. Excited to hear your thoughts on the beam. Im very on the fence on that ecosystem, sounds like their next release should be a lil brighter, little more fov, and a little more resolution and that would be a winner. Rokid max has the brighter and wider fov screen, swaps the resolution boost for faster refresh but doesnt have a beam like accessory. The industry seems so close to being great

[@androwerks6665]

hi, do you you use any audio post-processing to level out the peaks? Maybe it would make it a bit more pleasant to the ears, to even out the audio a bit. Your voice is quite bright but there seems to be a big distance between loud and soft tones, and on a small phone speaker with limited dynamic range, it becomes a bit strenuous, imho.

[@ItsFreeVRealEstate]

I can't be the only one who misses Projections

[@joelface]

Norman Chan VR/AR videos are THE BEST. :)

[@brendonedgar2923]

Whoah - a tested throw back video, nice!

[@joen7521]

Man, I miss This is only a Test

[@wart-dm1sb]

Myopia adjusters should become standard for all small form factor ar/xr glasses. As someone who has glasses, the quest is the most accessable xr device. I recently purchased a rokid Max, which I am excited about as a media consumption device.

[@user-gl5ld9vm7i]

You don't do that podcast anymore? Where's that other guy that you do that podcast with? Hello? So, no response??

[@FlockofSmeagles]

People don't acknowledge NorthStar because of it's dorky look, but it is truly the most advanced AR HMD out there, period.

[@hazonku]

The scuttlebutt I've heard about Apple's headset is that it's a VERY GOOD VR headset in the style of a ski goggle with some good passthrough. Should be interesting to see what comes. If they raise the bar or just hope into the water &steal everybody else's ideas that have already been in the wild for years like they've done with the iPhone the last decade.

[@jasonbenjamin1464]

yeah they swooped in and made something extremely compelling. quite impressive. like there were smartphones and pdas before the iphone the entire cohesive nature of the touch screen and multiple inputs was a game changer. the new one from apple is that... a leap forward in what's available. bit pricey but when has apple ever been affordable?

[@fxm5715]

Apple seems to have a knack for taking disparate but promising technologies that are just bumping along in clunky form, then refining and combining them in ways that actually work well for normal people. Once they prove that it can be done, everyone else jumps in and does similar kinds of integration, often not as elegantly, but more affordably. I suspect it will be the same with VR/AR. Apple will show how to make it work in real life, then the rest of the world will finally adopt it as a practical, marketable device/service/paradigm.

[@IraQNid]

When are we getting to the Johnny Pneumonic stage of VR use? Or the level of computer use as seen in Minority Report, where this sort of baby step is solved for ready to use applications for everyone? The biggest concern is for people who wear glasses, or readers who can no longer focus up close without the use of them. Also for folks who've had cataract surgery but couldn't afford top of the line implants which forces them to use readers or something like them for things at arms length or closer to see them clearly.

[@world_production]

And now Vision Pro is here 🤣🤩🤩🤩

[@brendonedgar2923]

RIP VR minute - never forget!

[@nunyabusiness6735]

Picked a heck of a day to release this video, with the Apple Vision Pro release today 😂

[@cjzed6916]

I miss the This Is Only A Test podcast 😢

[@loganl3746]

I kinda like the limited field of view on that virtual laptop. Personally an endless fov might be overwhelming to me, plus being able to look away to talk to someone might be good. I looooove the privacy tho!

[@DACatface]

I tried the nreal air and it was definitely better to be able to turn away from the screen or look around it to talk to someone

[@nathkrupa3463]

Thanks norm sir nice work

[@wittenhenderson875]

I want an AR flir screen inside my versaflow helmet. Is that so much to ask?

[@mariorossi9300]

I only wish Osterhout Design Group didn't go bankrupt, I followed them for the past decade and enjoyed using their ODG R7 AR smartglasses, but when they finally said they were launching the r9 for civilian consumers they started their demise. In any case if Apple launches a HMD that costs only $3,000 and performs better than the $15,000 XTAL3 I'm using now, I'll buy one immediately.

[@samsonsliteye]

120 degree FOV AR glasses? hell yeah! SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

[@markedis5902]

What I want from AR is the live information the same as in the original Terminator film. Until then the pounds stay in the pocket.

[@jameswalker199]

They had that, but Google canned it for the consumer market.

[@tiestofalljays]

I feel bad for any company who heavily invested into AR after that expo before seeing Apple’s event lol. You just know some hapless business was *just* enough out of the loop.

[@Ghalaghor_McAllistor]

I just want to live long enough to enjoy the SAO era of vr.

[@MYFAtal13]

I love my xreal and cant wait for the beam to arrive in july

[@Syrus54]

"1 centimeters"........ Nice, one, Normie.....

[@ryananderson8974]

What was niantic's presence like since they are the leaders in augmented reality.

[@journeywithoutdistance]

Did you see CREAL's demo? I've been impressed by their tech.

[@dryued6874]

Cyberpunk just keeps getting cyberpunkier.

[@sneakyfingersdevandle8164]

Headed straight to chat gpt to ask it to make Skynet an climb out of our screens with AR... They better use ar in the next Terminator filmZ but like a electromagnetic entity (invisible) but seen threw the augmentR

[@Laughing-Eyes]

I’m a historian. Let me know when I can experience living in another time interacting with historical figures. I’d love to talk to Thomas Jefferson.

[@dodger1x]

Ant Reality looks promissing. Hoping Xreal will adapt thoes optics…

[@Nnamdxxx]

I just got my Xreal Air. The Beam is on order. I do not have a compatible phone. All I have been able to do is update the firmwear on the PC. I did get it to work with my Roku Max but no sound. I used the Roku's remote speaker jack for sound (not very good quality) and watched some stuff. I am impressed at how crisp the screen is for only a 1080P screen. I have the oculus 2 and PICO 4. I just cant keep them on very long because of the weight. The Xreal does not have this problem. I'm sure with the Beam It will get even better. I can see myself plugging up to my phone, connect to my plex server and watching my movies or TV while on a trip. Now if we can get to Wireless connection, 4K and use the Ant Reality CrossfireTech, that could be Apples Vision Pros real Comprtitor.

[@Nnamdxxx]

I can only get the xreal to work with Dex or just mirror my Samsumg S20 desktop. Which is great But I have no been able to get Nebula app to work. I only get the splash screen, The Air does nothing but allow me to connect wireless to my phone but then i cannot watch anything because of copy protection and it still has no apps.

[@peterwilliams8922]

I've never been able to afford 3D 'glasses'. Apple certainly aren't viewing me as a 'target audience' lol. Sadly, at my age, I fear my natural vision is not going to be able to cope with any form of development as they all seem to rely on very close optics. I struggle to read a book these days at any distance. But I was there at the beginning of the computer age, er, actually Pong wasn't that good really, was it? Darn.

[@MrLogannator]

gimme my 40k cyber monocle

[@theoldknowledge6778]

Someone was playing the sims, can you hear it? Of course you can!

[@mirabilis]

Tilt Five is the best solution.

[@xKatjaxPurrsx]

Oh boy, that shirt is perfect :)

[@wiwingmargahayu6831]

dont go to bathurst island because you may end up eating fish there Sir

[@callumquinn7603]

Can do you meet the muppets performers and characters For Me Please from the Jim Henson company sesame workshop and the muppets studio

[@boxhead6177]

For filming AR/VR has anyone thought of adding one (or two) cameras with a manual digital focus into a foam mannequin head?

[@ItsFreeVRealEstate]

This is a great idea

[@-B.H.]

The nreal stuff needs a whole lot more work. Right now it's a tech demo at best and no real product. They need to take a hard look at the qol features the VR industry has.

[@LyingTube]

I don't think I've quite given up on reality enough to plug ChatGPT into my vision

[@sarsen1470]

I've been waiting decades for AR to take the leap into making mundane tasks (like vacuuming or mowing) a really pleasing experience.

[@MrPossumeyes]

Nah, sorry man, doesn't spin my wheels.

[@subliminalvibes]

I first experienced VR and AR in the late nineties. I'm amazed they're still flogging that poor dead horse. 😆

[@Nebby_99]

Have you tried it since?

[@Fuzzycat16]

@@Nebby_99 I have an index gathering dust.

[@ryanspivey8969]

Is that shirt a knock off from introverted but willing to discuss vx?

[@Emailmesoicanignoreu]

You could’ve waited a day 😅

[@JazzTechie]

So no name tags floating over peoples heads yet

[@Tanooki442]

…so… should we reject your augmented reality and substitute our own or is said rejection and substitution strictly for actual reality / the hyneman uncertainty principle? 😉

[@CybershamanX]

That monocle is going to ruin people's vision. If one eye is used more it becomes more dominant over time.

[@popguy2815]

Can't think of a single reason I'd buy ant of this stuff.

[@the77th]

For those watching this video in the future😂 this video literally came out 8 hours before apple announced the Vision Pro 😂 everything in this video legit became irrelevant-ish! 😂

[@jameswalker199]

I want to see what Apple comes up with. I find it hilarious that after all these years of development we still have AR devices that are somehow more inelegant than Google Glass, and Apple being Apple will have worked hard to make their device look like an Apple product. Hopefully it'll push other manufacturers to produce something that doesn't make the wearer look like a complete tit.

[@jameswalker199]

Don't get me wrong, you'll look like a tit for buying Apple, but at least you'll look like a fashionable tit.

[@anonymes2884]

All the leaks suggest the "tit factor" will still be pretty high. And if the rumoured prices are close it'll die a death I suspect (at least as a consumer device) - very few people are going to pay 3 grand for AR/VR goggles they don't really want to be seen wearing in the wild. (might still do well in the enterprise market though and that could be enough)

[@Jetter638]

Apple's headset will only be for the Apple sheep.

[@jfncho]

Thumbnail: I crush your head.

[@richv1893]

Most of this stuff ends up in the dust bin.

[@ItsFreeVRealEstate]

Its true but we all have a fun few days with it.

[@bryanbbarnes]

Apple just won.

[@kevinisawake]

NO WONDER WHY APPLE DID NOT CALL IT AR OR VR - this stuff at this show looks crap. How can Apple associate their product with these crap devices on the market after all these years in the game? Apple just walks in and their SPACIAL COMPUTING product does it all.

[@molcay8355]

Terrible sound quality for a 6.25 M channel

[@rogermortimer111]

I'm very excited to see the development in glasses. I'm launching Omni Environments, a unique AI, AR, VR, XR Coworking Space that is designed as an education facility and lab, collaboration center, start up incubator, and a remote Metaverse access point.

[@tatianaes3354]

*AR/VR will never be as present as smartphones.* You can use smartphone anywhere, while AR/VR makes sense only in certain environments.