BMW’s motorbike division has removed the need for riders to look down to check their speed and navigation with the launch of BMW Connected Ride Smartglasses.
Based off technology from Israeli company, EverySight, the BMW Connected Ride Smartglasses are connected to the instruments via Bluetooth, and project speed, navigation, speed-limit and gear-selection information onto a lens.
BMW claims the smart sunglasses will lead to safer riding, by keeping the rider’s eye on the road for longer periods, and launched them alongside the CE02 electric bike/scooter.
Riders can use the smart glasses via an app to adjust the projection location before they start riding then the glasses connect with any of BMW’s bikes with digital displays.
BMW Motorrad marketing head Ralf Rodepeter insisted the lithium-ion battery in the glasses gave them 10 hours of riding between charges, and BMW supplies a USB cable to recharge them.
And where Apple’s smart glasses retail at €4500 in Europe, the BMW smart glasses will retail for €690, and come in large and medium sizes.
Each set of glasses will also come with two sets of UVA/UVB certified lenses, one of which has 85% transparency so it can be used with helmets that have integrated visors, while the other pair is tinted for bright sunshine.
They are also pre-engineered for use with specially shaped corrective lenses, and while BMW has been silent on any of its development partners for the glasses, the corrective lenses are rumoured to come from another Israeli optical specialist, Shamir Optical Industry. Shamir has launched its own Driver Intelligence corrective lens kit in the last month, and they are claimed to reduce driver reaction times and eye fatigue, as well as correcting night myopia and reducing glare.
Read the full article here
