At CES, one might come across all kinds of silly, Geordi La Forge-esque smart glasses, but some do manage to pack in some useful features, like ViXion’s autofocus glasses. The company, a subsidiary of Japanese optical specialist Hoya, demonstrated the ViXion01 at CES 2024, which is aimed at people who have difficulty concentrating due to fatigue, old age or the time of day. After a quick demo, I also found myself benefiting from it every day. I even like the futuristic look of these glasses, which are the work of Japanese design company Nendo.
The heart of the ViXion01 is its front-facing ToF (time of flight) sensor, which can be used to measure the distance to a target object and quickly adjust the lens on the move. The basic concept is similar to the University of Utah prototype that appeared at CES 2017, but ViXion has managed to miniaturize it and even start commercializing it. Project director Toshiharu Uchiumi said his device would work wonders for enhancing detail in applications such as model kit assembly or reading small print.
Initial setup is simple. I had to manually slide both lenses first to get a single centered image, then I turned to the diopter adjustment dial on the right to get each of my eyeballs in focus, which worked great despite my nearsightedness of about -4.5 D (You can also set it up in the app via Bluetooth 5.0 connection). Although the ViXion01 weighs 50 grams, the main circuit and battery on the right side are obviously unbalanced, but I didn’t have enough time to adjust the bendable left arm and nose pad.
Other than that, it’s a surprisingly enjoyable experience from a visual perspective. My vision is sharper than usual, both at a distance and up close (as low as two inches), and I don’t experience eye strain like I usually do when looking at things up close – which seems ideal when I’m handling Gunpla . Automatic switching between different focal lengths also feels fast and seamless.
However, there are some caveats. First off, ViXion stresses that this isn’t a medical device and you should avoid wearing it while driving or playing sports — which makes sense considering the black ring on the lens results in limited vision. With that in mind, 10 hours of battery life should be enough, followed by 3 hours of charging via USB-C. It’s not waterproof either, but it is IPX3 rated and can withstand light rain or sweat.
The ViXion01 is now available for pre-order in Japan, priced at 99,000 yen (approximately $690), and is expected to begin shipping in February. There are currently no plans for an overseas release, but if it does happen, ViXion will likely need to launch a wider release.
We will provide live coverage of CES 2024, which will be held in Las Vegas from January 6th to 12th.Get all the latest news from the show here.
This article originally appeared on Engadget: https://www.engadget.com/vixion01-glasses-reduce-eyestrain-by-doing-the-focusing-for-you-205106281.html?src=rss
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