Virtual Space – the future of movies and video games
http://www.virtualspace.org.uk

and I have continued it as a blog at:

http://wwwvirtualspaceblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/virtual-space-future-of-movies-and.html

Isnt it? Vuzix seems to be doing ok saleing video glass’s with no native AR capabilitys.

If a company can be (seemingly) successfull saleing a sub-set of functionality, why cant a bigger company be successfull with a broader range of functionality?

“. Most people don’t like using bluetooth headsets, a pair of glasses is more intrusive and obvious.”"

A significant percentage of people in the world already wear glass’s for one reason or another.

While I’m not one of them I dont see something constantly on my head as more intrusive then something I have to take out. It just depends on how comfortable it is.
I think its just a period of getting used to it.

It is more obvious, but I’m not sure thats a problem.

You are correct about interface issues, theres a lot to work on there.
But at least, unlike bluetooth headsets, having a heads up display raise’s a lot more practical possibilitys for controll.
Even a simple voice controll system works a lot better with visual feedback, as you can instantly see when its gone wrong. Eyetracking also isnt that hard to implement.
(that said, I think Id prefer at least some buttons on the device itself though, even if its just a click/scroll wheel and a reset button)

As for Wire’s…certainly wireless is better, but huge numbers of people already wear mp3 players…wires for the eyephones dont seem to put people off.

I think the key is if the cost (both in money, effort to wear and convince) is less then the benefits (new functions and improved existing functions), then people will use something.

I think released now, youd get moderate sales of a iPhone add-on. Probably only 1% of iPhone owners, but that would still be significant.

Completely replacing the phone itself would be a lot more successfull overall, but consumers would need to get used to it.

Excellent point on apple not being first to market – the iphone was a refined version of what was currently available in the high end. And I had a mp3 player years before ipods were around (32 megabytes! wow!)

The market penetration of current versions of video glasses is incredibly small. People are gonna take some convincing, even if we see the The Steve Jobs with them on his face.

If the glasses could completely replace the phone – then we are talking about something really interesting. But a phone sitting in my pocket, with a long wire going to my head – I just don’t see it. It’s gonna take a fully functional gesture/voice/brain-machine interface and wirelessness before they became truly desirable IMO.

I seriously doubt Apple will be ready to bring a model to market in 2010.

But I like seeing a reputable/mainstream Apple magazine pushing the idea of Apple AR eyewear. Raising the mindshare of the idea.