LAS VEGAS—Even amid the acres of high definition TV screens, beeping robots, flying drones, self-driving cars, sensor-equipped clothing and appliances and other attention grabbing gear on display at CES 2016, smart glasses and other vision-enhancing products managed to create a stir.
Many of the 170,000 attendees who flocked to the mega trade show, held in Las Vegas from January 5 to January 9, came to experience augmented reality with the latest smart glasses or immerse themselves in a game, movie or live event while wearing virtual reality goggles. Others discovered new systems designed to improve visual performance while playing sports or driving.
VM’s lens and technology editor, Andrew Karp, walked the show aisles in search of the most exciting new eyewear technology. Here are the highlights from his tour of CES 2016.
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The Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, familiar to attendees of Vision Expo West, was one of the main venues for CES 2016.
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Digital health was a major theme of CES 2016, with hundreds of companies showing wearable technologies such as performance trackers and smart clothing.
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Health and Wellness was a major theme of Intel’s booth, prominently located in the Las Vegas Convention Center.
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Radar Pace is a new type of smart glasses being developed through a collaboration between Intel and Luxottica Group’s Oakley division. The eyewear, a prototype of which was featured in a CES keynote speech by Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, will offer a voice-activated, real-time coaching system and is designed to provide runners, cyclists and workout enthusiasts with “in-the-moment feedback and analytics, helping to track progress and improve real-time performance,” according to Intel and Luxottica. Spokespersons for the two companies said the product will be launched late this year.
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Garmin, known for its GPS systems, entered the smart glasses market with Varia Vision. The device, which provides performance metrics for cyclists, is designed to clip onto sunwear.
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At the Kopin booth, Andrew Karp tries on Solos, a performance tracker for cyclists that is integrated into a sunshield.
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RightEye debuted Essential Vision and Performance Vision, two new categories of vision tests that measure visual skills, vision performance and provide critical insights into a patientʼs health. Click here to see a video of RightEye’s Barbara Barclay (l) explaining how they work.
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Genworth’s R70i Aging Experience consists of a high tech exoskeleton and headset that uses state-of-the-art technology to help people step into their future selves and directly experience the physical effects associated with aging.
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Genworth’s R70i Aging Experience simulates vision loss from glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and floaters.
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The Orcam reader is a clip-on device that helps people with visual impairments navigate by reading signs and other printed material and by recognizing and identifying objects.
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Mark Greget, CEO of NuEyes, demonstrates a pair of NuEyes ODG Smart Glasses. The lightweight, wireless, voice-activated device is designed to assist people who have macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa or other visual conditions.
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Mary Womack of ODG tries on Medweb Glass, which medical personnel can use to measure a patient’s heart rate, blood type and other vitals as well as access data from their chart.
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Virtual Reality (VR) technology was one of the most popular attractions at CES 2016. The highly anticipated, soon-to-be-released Oculus drew some of the biggest crowds to its booth.
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The Avegant Glyph personal media player was named the coolest gadget of CES 2016 by USA Today. Avegant co-founder Ed Tang previewed the technology at Vision Monday’s Global Leadership Summit in 2014.
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Attendees experience Samsung Gear VR.
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At The Vision Council booth, Stephanie Wight and Justin Bazan, OD, told CES attendees about the Council’s new report, “Eyes Overexposed: The Digital Device Dilemma.”
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Nilo Garcia and Andrea Andino of Reticare showcased the company’s blue light-blocking screen protectors and new line of protective eyewear for digital device users.
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Toyota was one of many automotive companies that showed off their latest concept cars, including this hydrogen-powered model.
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Valeo, a supplier of OEM automotive products, introduced Les Lunettes, a smart glass prototype featuring active shuttering technology that reduces glare from on-coming headlights.
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Sunnycam sunglasses feature a high definition video camera.
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Zeiss showed a prototype of its stylish data glasses, which feature a curved polycarbonate lens injection molded together with a display screen and Fresnel lens optics. The optical system, designed by Smart Optics, a new Zeiss-financed start-up venture, can be fitted in various frame designs, the company said. Wearers will be able to experience augmented reality and app projections in their field of sight as a flying screen in front of their eyes, not as a projection into the eye. The position of the data field can be customized to customer requirements and field of application, Zeiss said. Click here to view Andrew Karp's interview with Zeiss.
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Although not an official CES exhibitor, PogoTec was in town offering demonstrations of its Pogo Power smart glass prototype, which is powered wirelessly and can accommodate a miniature camera or other devices on a track built into the temple of the frame.
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Mirama’s Telepathy Walker was one of many new products featuring a head-mounted display that were introduced at CES.
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Vuzix previewed the M300, a smart glass for enterprise users featuring a micro LCD display.
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Drones seemed to be everywhere at CES this year.
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Robots were also a big hit with attendees.
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LG’s booth captivated attendees with a stunning video display.
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Sony’s circular video display was mesmerizing.