Epson, which makes the most successful binocular augmented reality visor, today announced its newest model, the Moverio BT-300. The company says it is the lightest AR glasses on the market.
Designed as a lighter follow-on to the BT-200, the BT-300 and meant for the commercial market, as opposed to the heavier duty industrial market. Asked which markets had expressed the most interest in the BT-300, Valerie Riffaud-Cangelosi, new market development manager for wearables at Epson EMEA, cited museums, drone pilots, retail, and education/training.
The BT-300 uses Si-OLED displays placed in the middle of each eyepiece. The visor is driven by an Intel Atom quad-core processor running Android 5.1 and Bluetooth Smart; processors and the 6-hour battery are held in a 3×5-inch outboard box connected by wire. That box is not ruggedized and would not be suitable for hostile environments.
Subjectively, the device is comfortable to wear — balanced and light although not insubstantial. It is, like most AT visors, no one’s idea of a fashion item.
The BT-300 is expected to go on sale in October 2016, priced at 800 euros, or about $900.