News

Dubai Startup Creates Iron Man-Style Smart Contact Lens

XPANCEO’s futuristic eyewear can be controlled using voice, gestures, glances, and “probably later, your mind”, according to the company’s founder.

Published

12 months ago

December 7, 2023

Nour Nasir

dubai startup creates iron man style smart contact lens

Antonie Robertson / The National

Dubai-based tech startup XPANCEO has revealed prototypes of its smart contact lens system, which aims to mimic the technology used by Tony Stark in the famous Marvel Iron Man and Avengers movies.

After a seed funding round this October, the company has already raised $40 million and plans to put the device on the market by 2027 if human trials are successful.

xpanceo founder roman axelrod smart contact lens

Founder Roman Axelrod explained the motivation behind the project, saying, “Now, we have our laptops for the office, smartphones for daily activities, and smartwatches for training … a real computer of the future is an ecosystem of software. Think about it as a Tony Stark computer”.

xpanceo smart contact lens

XPANCEO has built three prototypes, offering an “infinite” extended reality view where tasks from documents, meetings, social media, and gaming will be shown in the user’s field of view and visible only to the wearer.

The lenses are powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning and will also include night vision, voice, gesture, and glance control. Mr. Axelrod even believes that later versions will be controlled by the user’s mind. The company is also developing a charging case similar to those used by wireless earbuds.

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Ultimately, XPANCEO aims to replace all the devices consumers currently use with this hyper-miniaturized gadget. The company has yet to decide on a price for its smart contact lens, but “it has to be no more than an expensive smartphone”, Mr. Axelrod explained.

That would imply a four-figure sum in US dollar terms: for reference, the most expensive version of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is priced at $1,599.

News

Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent

According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2024

Nour Nasir

samsung smart glasses teased for january software reveal imminent

Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.

As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.

Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.

Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…

— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024

The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.

A Collaborative Software Effort

Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.

Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.

Feature Set And Compatibility

The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.