Google has been awarded a patent for a fitting system that guides the user in choosing the right frames and elements for perfect sizing – as well as factoring in the needs of glasses wearers.
The company may be working hard on AR specs behind the scenes, but it's also looking to address how comfortable they are to wear.
"A user may want to select and/or customize a wearable device for fit and/or function. For example, a user may wish to select and/or customize a pair of smart glasses to include a selection of frames, incorporation of prescription lenses, and other such features," reads the patent.
"Existing systems for procurement of these types of wearable devices do not provide for accurate fitting and customization, particularly without access to a retail establishment," it continues.
Google
Providing an AR experience consumers will enjoy in a form factor that they'll actually want to wear is still a big challenge for those developing glasses, but fit and usability are still big parts of the puzzle, too.
Google outlines that it would use the user's smartphone or laptop camera, which would then identify key points on the AR glasses or a replica designed for fitting purposes.
Key fitting points would be identified, such as the bridge of the nose or the edge of the lenses. It may also work out the location of the pupil, within the frame of the specs, to make sure that the screen and optical portions line up properly for comfortable operation of the AR specs.
Google
This is what Google refers to as the 'ophthalmic fit'. This would refer to the needs of glasses wearers, in order to make sure that the AR specs are also suited to general use.
The system would detect the glasses and frame key points, and, then, if the user has ophthalmic needs, these measurements will be factored into the fit.
In fact, while the images and diagrams predominately focus on AR glasses, the patent expands the idea to potentially include earbuds and even wrist-worn wearables.
Adoption of face-worn wearables won't take off if AR smartglasses aren’t comfortable to wear. So, while this doesn’t seem a game-changer, it could be a glimpse into how we buy and choose smartglasses in the future.
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James is the co-founder of Wareable, and he has been a technology journalist for 15 years.
He started his career at Future Publishing, James became the features editor of T3 Magazine and T3.com and was a regular contributor to TechRadar – before leaving Future Publishing to found Wareable in 2014.
James has been at the helm of Wareable since 2014 and has become one of the leading experts in wearable technologies globally. He has reviewed, tested, and covered pretty much every wearable on the market, and is passionate about the evolving industry, and wearables helping people achieve healthier and happier lives.