As workers look for more ways to be productive at home and in the office, wearable technology has often proved a useful tool, offering quite literally a new dimension for users. Augmented Reality (AR) headsets have been around for a few years, with Microsoft, Meta and Apple all among the big players getting involved – but these headsets have often proved clunky and overbearing. AR glasses have instead offered a new opportunity for those looking for some extra assistance in everyday life – I went to try out the new Snap Specs ahead of their UK launch. First impressions
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first – tech-enabled glasses (specifically those made by Meta) are under the microscope somewhat at the current moment in time, with rulings over what they can and can’t do emerging in courts across the world. Snap has explicitly looked to offer a whole new kind of experience, with the new sixth-generation Snap Specs much more obviously an accessory – it’s pretty obvious when wearing them that (unless you’ve gone full Nathan Barley) these aren’t a typical pair of glasses. The smooth black material is nice to touch, and sits against your face with no issues. Configuring the glasses takes only a few seconds, with control of the device mainly in AR, with two buttons on the arms of the glasses helping with recording and resetting if needed. Unlike other AR glasses, the big selling point of Snap Specs is that they don’t need to be tethered to a smartphone, so you can wear them wherever you want – with a portable charging pad helping to top up battery life when needed. (Image credit: Future/Mike Moore) As the Snap Specs are still fairly new, a lot of the app showcases and demos I saw looked to show off how AR can help entertain or educate – but there were some work use cases too. My glasses came loaded with Google Docs, with typing carried out on a virtual keyboard which could prove perfect if you need to write up some quick thoughts or emails when away from your desk…