These mixed reality glasses give a different peek into the Metaverse future

Not all AR glasses need to be stylish or classy. Others need to be tough enough to withstand the harsh world.

Talk around the Metaverse has many of us dreading how the future will have screens literally in our faces even more than ever before. The ideal future will include stylish glasses, less noticeable headsets and contact lenses, which may allow us to experience an entirely different world in real life. That might be fine for most people, but the Metaverse is unlikely to make certain industries disappear, especially the ones that work on the infrastructures that will make the Metaverse even possible. These industries are not able to use normal smart glasses. This mixed reality and AR smart glass gives a different spin on the story, even though it may look a little more cyberpunk.

Designer: Hatch Duo

To make mixed reality and augmented realities more popular, it is essential that the industry makes headsets and glasses easier to use and less costly. Although AR equipment is not yet as accessible as regular glasses, many platform and device developers are striving to make it so. That said, not all potential users of AR services need fancy glasses, especially those that are often exposed to less favorable working conditions.

Just like industrial workers often need more rugged phones, they also need more rugged AR equipment. Even Microsoft HoloLens and Magic Leap, two of the very few headsets catering to these users, might actually be less sturdy for comfort. The ThirdEye Gen MR X2, in contrast, is designed exactly for rough environments. It’s thick, rugged, and almost menacing, but it’s also meant to be more comfortable and easier to use.

The visor, for example, has two layers, one providing the actual HUD (heads-up display) while the other acts as a protective shield for both the eyes and the display. It is quite heavy and contains all hardware needed to run MR or AR experiences. And instead of joysticks or even gloves that tie up the wearer’s hands, the glasses has buttons on its frame for some important actions while also relying on gestures to control the software running on the device.

The ThirdEye X2 looks like a mix of the bulkiness of current-gen headsets and the sleek, smart glasses of the future. Its form, however, is designed not just for comfort but also for safety, with possible expansions for attaching safety helmets. The black-and-orange smart glasses have a retro appeal, but also lend themselves to geeky looks. This is an intriguing design combination that may become more popular as we travel the path towards AR, which everyone loves to discuss.