Apple is exploring the creation of its smart glasses under an internal project titled "Atlas." The internal study aims to collect employee views about the new product before the tech giant starts making its own.
The project started last week and is being led by the Apple Product Systems Quality team, a sub-group of the hardware engineering division. The invitation was open to all employees in focus groups to evaluate existing market smart glasses offerings to understand what users prefer.
The team was invited by an email that read, "Testing and developing products that all can come to love is very important to what we do at Apple. This is why we are looking for participants to join us in an upcoming user study with current market smart glasses."
The use of internal employees to provide truthful feedback without a public aura of scrutiny goes hand in hand with Apple's history of strategic secrecy. This allows the tech giant to gather crucial insights into the landscape of competitors without releasing sensitive information to the public.
Although Apple Vision Pro marks the first-ever entry of the company into head-mounted technology, it has yet to attract much consumer interest. This new venture may mark a shift toward more accessible and portable AR, like Meta's Ray-Ban Stories which feature cameras, microphones, and AI.
What the Apple smart glasses could provide, if the tech giant starts producing, includes:
Camera Integration: Capturing photos and video seamlessly.
Siri and AI Capabilities: Further enhancements to hands-free interaction.
Built-in Speakers: Audio experiences like AirPods.
Health Features: Monitoring tools like those available in current wearable devices.
If this is something Apple is going to pursue, the smart glasses would integrate music, communication, and practical AR features into a lightweight design appealing to everyday users.
However, such a road to good AR glasses has a lot of hurdles associated with it, especially technology and cost. In this internal research, Apple may first start developing simpler smart glasses that will then graduate into full-fledged AR technology. There are reports that a possible release by 2027 is on the cards, of course, this is still speculation.
The long portfolio of patents Apple has regarding smart glasses for the last seven years shows that it seriously intends to become a relevant player in the wearable market.
As the project "Atlas" goes forward, the initiative will indicate the determination of Apple to find its place in the shifting landscape of wearable technology. This may be the next great expansion of the Apple product family, marrying practical innovation with the company's iconic ecosystem.
As the news continues to unfold, one thing is already clear, Apple is targeting a future for smart glasses in a way that will be memorable in the world of wearable tech.