A new augmented reality headset that was designed for cyclists could eventually be expanded to include a host of other sports and activities, such as sailing and skydiving.
Everysight unveiled pricing and set the release date last week for its new cycling augmented reality smart glasses, Raptor, which offer built-in GPS and sensors that capture and display riding information such as navigation, time, distance, speed, cadence and power in real-time in a rider’s line of sight.
The goal of the headset is to provide key information that cyclists might otherwise only be able to access by taking their eyes off the path and staring down at their cycling computers. It’s designed to improve safety and efficiency by making it easier for riders to access information crucial to their workout or race.
“They want to see all this information in one place, and that’s where augmented reality shines,” Everysight CEO Asaf Ashkenazi said.
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The headset will retail with a starting price of $499 when it goes on sale Nov. 15 and begin shipping next February. However further into the future, Ashkenazi believes Everysight’s augmented reality technology will be expanded to include a host of other sports that could benefit from handless display data.
“We went into the cycling market first because it’s bigger,” he said. “But I’m sure this will evolve to other sports markets initially, then to other places. We are scalable.”
Sailors, for example, rely on real-time data collected by sensors on the boat but are often using their arms to control lines or steer. A skydiver must rely on an altimeter on their wrists to maintain altitude awareness and know when to deploy their parachutes, which can cause them to lose critical seconds by glancing down. A skier or snowboarder could use information about speed, distance, navigation and conditions, which would benefit them when traveling 30 miles per hour down slopes or in the backcountry.
Currently Raptor is only able to provide data specific to cycling, but Ashkenazi said future iterations of the hardware may be outfitted with software that might be able to collect data from sensors and third-party devices related to other sports.
The goal is that the information crucial to whatever activity Everysight is targeting are provided to the user in their line of sight so they don’t lose awareness about their surroundings or need to take their attention off the task at hand. The information isn’t invasive, as it seemingly floats four to six feet in front of the user and then naturally fades into the background as the user focuses on something else.
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“Being aware of your surroundings is doing real augmented reality,” Ashkenazi said.
Besides serving up data, the glasses can also be used as a media device, enabling users to capture photos and videos from a camera located between their eyes with a tap of a button near their temple or by using voice commands.
Overlays of real-time data captured in the moment, such as speed or heart rate, can be integrated in the footage to give viewers perspective and context about the point-of-view shots, then downloaded to a mobile device and easily shared on social media.
The GoPro Hero 5 Black and Garmin’s Virb line of action cameras similarly use a built-in GPS to collect data about speed, distance and elevation, which enable telemetry overlays on videos. However, those overlays aren’t meant to assist the athlete during the action itself.