Google Glass did Epson a huge solid when it got the world excited about wearable computing. Yes, the company already had something on the market when Google announced Glass - the Moverio BT-100 - but it was being marketed to enterprise folks, not the painfully hip tech elite. Now that the wearables buzz has reached fever pitch, Epson is taking the opportunity to broaden the appeal of its AR glasses.
While the new Moverio BT-200 headset is 60 percent lighter than its predecessor, it's still an undeniably hefty pair of glasses. With thick lenses and an attached cable that ends at a touchpad the size of two stacked Moto Xs, you'll definitely stand out wearing a pair of these - and not in a good way.
But fashion shouldn't really be a concern for most wearers. Instead of the walk-around-town-and-flaunt-your-exclusive-technology demographic, Epson is going for the hang-out-at-home-and-play-games market. This becomes apparent when you look at the tech behind the glasses. While Google Glass is more of a notification device that's out of your field of view until you need it, the BT-200 is a full Android experience, with a transparent display that hovers approximately four feet in front of you.
Navigation of Android is accomplished with the attached touchpad. Apps can take advantage of the on-board head-tracking accelerometer for an Oculus Rift-like gaming experience. Look up within a virtual 3D space with the glasses on and you look up within a game. The glasses also have a VGA-quality camera for AR applications similar to what LEGO and others have built to create a 3D environments.
The feature that stands out the most against the Google's offering is the glass itself. The stereoscopic lenses use the same technology as Google Glass. By using two lenses, you can create a 3D display instead of the flat 2D display found on Glass. Images beamed from tiny projectors situated in the glass's arms hit the 'wave guide' lenses. These lenses are placed at a 45-degree angle to your eye and reside in the main eyepiece. The result is a floating interface for both your eyes. It's actually quite cool. The display is front and center in your field-of-view.
Epson is relying on third-party developers to come up with applications that take advantage of that in-your-face display. I tried out a demo game that resembles a lower quality version of something you'd see on the Oculus Rift. You turn your head to find enemies above and behind you and destroy them. It has the potential to be a gaming headset without the price tag or delays associated with competing products. Epson is also hoping that all the features that make the gaming experience possible will also push developers to create useful AR apps.
In the mean time, the BT-200 will remain an Android smartphone for your face, a gaming accessory, and a Google Glass-like notification center. And at $700, it's significantly cheaper than Glass and will actually be shipping soon (April 1).
Roberto is a Wired Staff Writer for Gadget Lab covering cord-cutting, e-readers, home technology, and all the gadgets that fit in your backpack. Got a tip? Send him an email at: roberto_baldwin [at] wired.com.
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