Smart glasses bring video calls to the next level

Smart glasses are often considered the "next big thing" in consumer electronics and could provide a number of benefits for industry.

They can host audio, give information on scenery or products, host facial recognition and some even provide rudimentary forms of augmented reality - and like smartphones, provide easy portable communication.

Tech firm Iristick, which is developing smart glasses for manufacturing and healthcare, has launched Microsoft Teams on its smart glasses that could allow workers on the factory floor to host important calls, and offer hands-free remote assistance, virtual inspections and remote maintenance.

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The glasses are controlled via voice commands that allow for users to take advantage of the various services collaboration software such as Teams offers, allowing for live streams, taking and sharing pictures, camera controls and troubleshooting.

With the rise of remote working, the use of platforms such as Zoom or Teams has risen sharply and the interconnectivity has become an increased part of work-life.

The firm hopes this same technology can be applied to industries in which remote working is more difficult.

Smart glasses could allow for faster technical assistance and diagnostics in the case of malfunctions. Decreased need for travel can also help deal with labour shortages and help reduce commuting emissions.

‘‘Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a significant, 44% increase in the number of professionals using collaboration tools," Iristick CEO Johan De Geyter claims.

Due to direct collaboration with Microsoft, the glasses come equipped with all the mobile device management its systems offer, including its security tools.

More specifically, the glasses make use of Microsoft Azure, its cloud computing service.

‘‘Iristick supports this increased demand by launching a widely used video conferencing solution on our smart glasses.

‘Microsoft Teams on Iristick’ is an application that connects frontline professionals in every industry to empower them in a digitised future," he added.

Increased interconnectivity is a key part of Industry 4.0, in which increasing production efficiency through data sharing and diagnostics is a core theme.

Due to their status as a burgeoning technology, a number of tech giants have begun investing in smart glasses. Gaming peripheral company Razer recently launched its first smart glasses range, and Chinese startup Nreal is set to launch its augmented reality glasses soon.

Iristick believes that so-called wearable tech "will be the future of manufacturing" by leveraging technology at their fingertips to "enhance" the workforce.

Increased diagnostics and simulations could also be very good for the healthcare sector, as these tools could help doctors to plan the best approach for care or run simulations on surgeries in a risk-free environment.

It could also revolutionise therapy. The University of Oxford is currently trialling VR therapy, and smart glasses tech could easily connect those who need it with mental health professionals.

Read more: Game On! VR therapy gets first trials

‘‘Extended Reality and smart glasses are an undeniable part of Industry 4.0, the smart factories of tomorrow and digital health," said Joris Aeles, the Azure Business Group Lead at Microsoft.

Aeles believes that companies utilising Azure will take away a lot of the legwork for them, as they will not have to design their own software and operating systems.

"Leveraging these technologies and their remote assistance solutions will help companies gain competitive advantages and provide them with a better chance to position themselves at the forefront of their respective industries," he added.

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