In a race to compete with Google Glass smart-eyewear, a Japanese researcher has developed a new radical alternative that mimics gestures of human eyes.
The new ‘Cyborg glasses’ developed by University of Tsukuba’s Prof Hirotaka Osawa display computer-generated eye animations rather than the wearer’s real ones and assist in simulating emotional reactions when users are too busy or distracted.
The new kit incorporates two organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens that are controlled via either a smartphone or PC through a Bluetooth wireless connection.
Further, the PC will also be connected to a camera to capture readings from the broader environment.
The glasses also feature gyrometer and accelerometer sensors which are integrated to one arm to keep an eye on the user’s behaviour, while a battery equipped on the other arm would power the kit.
Prof Osawa told the BBC that the new tools would be suitable for nurses, waitresses, teachers, therapists and others working in interaction-intensive professions.
"Our developed society requires workers to behave more socially," he added.
"AgencyGlass aims to support such kinds of emotional labour by extending users’ social abilities with technology, just as robots already support our physical labours and computers support our mental activity."
The developer also claims that the new glasses would make wearers appear friendly and social even when they are actually not in the mood.
