Augmenting Glasses
How modern technology impacts eyeglasses as a cultural artefact
Uni Project | Master's Thesis
Timeframe | 10 weeks, 2022
Project Scope | Project Management, Design Research, Industrial Design, Visualisation, Model Making
“AR Glasses will be better than phones - available every second you have them on.”
Michael Abrash, Meta Reality Labs
setting the basis
AR, VR and MR
Augmented Reality (AR) is positioned within a Spectrum of Reality that spans from the non-digital physical world to a completely digital virtual reality (VR). In Difference to VR, AR resides very closely to the physical-reality-end of the spectrum.
Why isn’t AR here yet?
AR applications are already in use in professional environments. However, consumer-oriented AR devices have faced challenges, including privacy concerns, social interaction issues, and visual impairment due to bulky hardware.
Mixed Reality Spectrum
physical reality
digital reality
Augmented Reality
Virtual Reality
Reasons not to buy AR glasses
Source: Media Consumer Survey 2022 Next Stop: Metaverse. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd. (2022)
35%
dislike the decreased field of view of headsets
26%
have privacy concerns
11%
worry about irritating others
Strategy
Market and Target Demographics
Observing the Space of AR Solutions shows, why dedicated devices aren’t ready for society, while screen-based AR can’t deliver on its promises. A precisely defined target group helps in finding core requirements, while Personas help to verify the design in specific use cases.
User Experience Analysis
Observing a potential user, and analysing their usual daily activities in special regard to the choice of eyeglasses reveals, that one person has a demand for multiple Glasses for different use cases and styles.
An object of identity.
make it loveable
Over nearly 3,000 years Glasses have evolved into objects of cultural significance.
They are symbols of wealth and intelligence and shape identity and perception of their wearers unlike any other fashion object.
In stark contrast, studies found, that when used in social interactions, the 2015 Google Glass creates an imbalance in status, even getting wearers the nickname “glassholes”.
For that reason I approached this project as a non-user-centric design.
Good AR-Glasses have to be good eyeglasses first.
available in different styles
socially acceptable
similarly affordable
perceived as eyeglasses
What didn’t work …
Initially I explored innovative Product Structures lending from opera glasses or monocles and modular attachments to regular glasses.
finding options
… and what worked
Ultimately, the decision was made to retain the basic structure of eyeglasses with the key innovation being the separation of technology and aesthetic components. Thus allowing users to easily customise the device for different purposes, without the need to purchase multiple whole units.
symbiosis
Design is a Puzzle
Semantics
The division of the device into two parts, an emotional and a functionality-focused section, allowed for clearer communication of its purpose and function.
Privacy
Given the significance of privacy, the design choices around the sensors became crucial.
Hidden in plain sight within a surface pattern, they‘re designed to communicate their presence and activity very honestly.
Tech Pacakge
Augmenting Glasses demonstrates how next-gen AR hardware can be made appealing for everyday consumer use through product design.
The core technology are waveguide displays, which
allow images to be transmitted within a transparent medium.
Tech
Physical visual Prototype
bringing it to reality
The physical prototype is mainly 3D printed using SLA technology. It not only serves as a visual prototype of what the product may look like but also proves the assembly.
Thank you
