What are AR Glasses? (Everything You Need to Know)

What are AR glasses, and how do they truly work?

Imagine living in a world where the line between analog reality and digital information is blurred. A world where you can perceive everything around you with an extra layer of data, entertainment, and engagement.

This world is possible with augmented reality (AR) glasses, an innovative tech that is changing how we perceive and engage with our surroundings. AR offers a hands-free and totally immersive experience that you can use to entertain yourself and learn more about the world around you quickly and easily.

In this guide, we’ll explore AR glasses in depth to better understand them and why our team at MyW offers some of the best augmented reality technology on the market.

What are AR glasses?

Augmented reality glasses are wearable devices that overlay your visible surroundings with digital information, augmenting your real-world view.

Unlike virtual reality, where you’re completely removed from your surroundings, AR allows you to connect the analog and virtual worlds and perceive them concurrently.

AR glasses work like traditional frames but contain additional hardware, such as cameras, sensors, microphones, and projector displays.

These elements capture your surroundings while projecting information in front of your eyes, data like streaming sports feeds, weather predictions, or even real-time language translations.

You might think, “I can do all these things from my smartphone — why do I need AR glasses?

The main advantage is that everything is done hands-free. You can interact with digital content while still being able to focus on the world around you and complete two-handed manual tasks.

Imagine walking to a job interview and needing to figure out where the office is located. Instead of looking down at your phone GPS, you can have it appear naturally in front of you so you don’t have to crane your neck as you’re walking.

This freedom also makes AR glasses useful in professional settings in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and education, where workers need data to perform their jobs but still need to keep their attention in front of them.

What are augmented reality glasses commonly used for?

Now, let’s dive deeper into what AR glasses are used for. They have many uses in both professional and personal situations.

Entertainment

AR glasses can enhance the gaming experience by overlaying digital content onto the physical world, creating interactive and immersive gameplay. You can watch movies, TV shows, or videos on a large virtual screen while still being able to grab your popcorn and a drink without having to take the glasses off.

Navigation

As mentioned, enhanced navigation is another popular feature of augmented reality glasses. They can provide real-time directions and navigational cues, making it easier for you to navigate without holding your phone out or looking down and potentially tripping and falling because you’re not paying attention. Many models include a GPS as part of their AR glasses, meaning you can always figure out where you are and where you are going.

Communication

AR glasses can facilitate hands-free communication, allowing users to make calls, send messages, or even attend virtual meetings without a smartphone or computer.

Education and Training

Modern AR glasses can enhance learning experiences by providing interactive visual aids, simulations, and real-time feedback. These features make it easier for students to understand complex concepts and for professionals to receive on-the-job training.

Translation

Do you travel a lot but need help understanding many languages? Our MyW AR glasses have a built-in translation device that can translate the language you’re hearing into whatever language you speak as the person is talking to you.

Industrial

In manufacturing and warehousing, employees use data to determine what tasks need to be performed, what needs to go where, and when it needs to go there.

Often, they use a handheld screen to do this, which takes their attention away from the task at hand and causes unnecessary risk. With AR glasses, they can see the data projected in front of them while keeping their eyes on the job.

The above are just a few examples of what you can do with AR smart glasses.

How do augmented reality glasses work?

Now, let’s discuss how AR glasses actually work. AR combines advanced hardware and software to overlay digital information into your real-world view. Here’s how that happens:

Cameras and sensors serve as navigation inputs for your device. They allow the glasses to see what’s around you, analyze it, and then interact with it as naturally as you would without the glasses.

A built-in processor handles the calculations regarding these inputs to determine what digital content should be displayed and how to sync it with the real world. Mini projectors and transparent displays then overlay the digital information in front of your eyes.

Lastly, sophisticated software algorithms, such as simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) and computer vision routines, enable AR glasses to accurately track the user's position, recognize objects and surfaces, and integrate digital content seamlessly into real-world views.

By combining these elements, AR glasses can seamlessly blend the online world with the analog one and provide a hands-off, immersive experience.

What are the best AR glasses on the market?

While several products are available on the market, our MyW AR devices stand out as the best AR glasses with their impressive features and user-friendly design. MyW AR glasses offer a comprehensive suite of capabilities that cater to a wide range of users and applications.

Record High-Quality Videos

One of MyW AR glasses' most impressive features is their ability to capture and record high-quality videos and photos from a first-person perspective via a built-in 13 MP camera.

This capture device allows you to create immersive content and share your first-person experience with others. You can use it to create gaming content, YouTube videos, exercise instructions, and any other content you can conceive.

The glasses also provide a hands-free, cable-free, and distraction-free viewing experience, making them perfect for enjoying movies, TV shows, or gaming on a giant virtual screen.

Real-Time Translation

Another unique feature is the multi-language translation for up to 50 different languages. This feature is an incredible tool for travelers or business operators who may need to communicate with people from other cultures.

The built-in teleprompter feature is another game-changer, enabling users to deliver speeches or presentations with confidence and clarity.

Stereo Quality Speakers

If you enjoy music and like to listen on the go, you won’t have to worry about needing an additional headset or earphones. MyW has built-in dynamic stereo sound, so you can enjoy your favorite music, audiobooks, and podcasts from wherever you want.

While MyW is our product, and we're proud of what we've built, other AR glasses may better suit your needs. Our linked article covers the best AR glasses on the market, including XREAL, Apple Vision Pro, and our flagship MyW line.

How much do AR glasses typically cost?

The cost of AR glasses varies widely depending on the brand, features, and target audience. Entry-level AR glasses designed for personal use can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to around $1,000.

Remember that pricing varies dramatically. Some of the highest-end AR glasses can cost as much as $4,000 to $6,000 because they’re designed for specific industries, such as medicine and manufacturing.

MyW AR glasses are priced competitively and affordably to provide an easy access point for people simply looking to use them for personal enjoyment and general life enhancement.

By balancing affordability and functionality, MyW aims to make AR technology more widely available to consumers and businesses alike.

It's important to note that as AR technology continues to advance and become more widely adopted, AR glasses prices are expected to decrease, making AR glasses more affordable and accessible to a broader audience in the future.

How can you make your own AR glasses?

Do you have some tech knowledge and prefer the DIY route? If so, creating your own AR glasses is an option. It’s not easy, but if you enjoy this type of thing, you’ll likely have fun with the process.

You’ll want to start by building a prototype and designing hardware like the frame, camera, display, and processing unit. Most people select a mirror, lens, and reflecting surface type of design. Once you have that, it’s as simple as utilizing an OLED display to project images in front of your eyes.

From there, you’ll need to either download a software platform and algorithm or build it yourself if you have those skills.

Once you’ve done that, you want to create and integrate any apps you wish to build into the glasses.

If you’re really techy and have the skills, this could be an option for you. For most people reading, we recommend you simply purchase AR glasses because they will be of higher quality than anything you can build at home and provide a better experience.

Can you use prescription lenses with AR glasses?

Yes, prescription lenses can be used with many AR glasses, ensuring that users with vision symptoms can still enjoy the benefits of augmented reality technology.

For example, MyW offers frames that fit perfectly with your prescription lenses. All you need to do is wear your glasses as usual and put the headset on over them. They also come with polarized lenses for outdoor use.

Understanding the difference between AR glasses and smart glasses

While the terms "AR glasses" and "smart glasses" are often used interchangeably, there is a subtle difference between the two:

AR or augmented reality glasses specifically focus on laying digital information over the user's standard view. Their primary purpose is to enhance the user's perception of reality by adding relevant, interactive digital content that’s seamlessly integrated with the surrounding visual environment.

On the other hand, smart glasses are a broader category encompassing any wearable device in the standard glasses form factor with advanced computing capabilities.

While smart glasses may include AR features, they can also offer other functions, such as displaying notifications, running apps, or capturing photos and videos without necessarily providing an augmented reality experience.

So, all AR glasses are smart glasses, but not all smart glasses are AR glasses.

What is the difference between AR glasses and VR glasses?

Both glasses change your perception of the world but do so in very different ways.

AR glasses enhance your experience by displaying digital information about the world around you right where you are looking. You can still see all your surroundings, but the glasses add images, text, video, or 3D models to enhance your understanding of what you see.

VR glasses completely replace your surroundings and provide a fully immersive environment. You can’t see what is around you with virtual reality because VR blocks your surroundings and offers an entirely different view. It’s more of an escapist experience that takes you out of this world and places you in a different one.

Augmented reality is like the hybrid version of that.

What are the risks of using AR glasses?

All of this sounds great and is a lot of fun, but are AR glasses safe? Ultimately, they are perfectly safe as long as you use them properly.

The overlay of digital information could be a distraction if it obstructs your view. You should not use these devices when driving, biking, or operating heavy machinery.

AR glasses equipped with cameras and sensors may raise privacy issues, as they can potentially record or capture personal information without the knowledge or consent of others. This possibility is a potentially unavoidable risk and relies on individuals to think morally and logically about their decisions and what they film.

Are AR glasses bad for your eyes?

The long-term impact of AR glasses isn’t known because they are too new. As with any digital screen, eye strain is a potential side effect. It can cause your eyes to feel tired and dry, but at MyW, we provide high-quality imaging that is as close to your natural vision as possible to reduce this issue.

Some AR glasses emit blue light, which has been associated with potential disruptions to sleep patterns and possibly increased risk of certain eye conditions, such as macular degeneration.

It’s essential to take breaks. Don’t use your AR glasses for too long, and if you feel like your eyes are straining, give them a rest.

Final Thoughts on AR Glasses

Hopefully, this article has answered all of your questions about AR glasses. This breakthrough technology can change how we interact with the world around us.

As technology advances, we can expect AR glasses to become more powerful, compact, and affordable, making them accessible to a broader range of users.

MyW is at the forefront of this exciting technology, offering comprehensive features and a user-friendly design you won’t find anywhere else. We are committed to driving innovation and making augmented reality more available to consumers and businesses.

Click here to learn more and get a MyW AR Headset today →