About this project
ORA Smart Glass
$104,656
Optinvent is proud to announce the ORA Smart Glasses packed with amazing features and more advanced than anything else you've ever seen!
The ORA can run a multitude of compelling applications:
- Hands free Augmented Reality
- Sports
- Navigation
- POV photography
- POV Video conferencing
- and Much More!
The ORA Smart Glass is about to make History. Be part of it!
Tom's Hardware - "Optinvent ORA Eyes-On : Google Glass Rival Sports Impressive Display, Cheaper Price"
Digital Trends - "ORA-X smart eyeglasses to challenge Google Glass in 2015 with $300 price tag"
Android Community - "ORA-1 is a potential Google Glass killer, runs on Android"
Tom's Guide- "ORA-1 Glasses to Put Android on Your Face"
Examiner - "Optinvent ORA-1 smart glasses now available on Kickstarter"
TEKD - "ORA-1 Smart Glasses Combine Augmented Reality with Mobility"
Techaeris - "ORA-1 a Google Glass Challenger with tricks of its own"
Engadget - "A look at Optinvent's updated Smart Glasses"
Gizmodo - "Optinvent ORA-S look to out glass Google with True AR spectacles"
The Guardian - "The best of London's Wearable Tech Show 2014"
Augmented Reality Trends - " Top 5 Wearable Techs of CES 2014"
Crunch Wear - "Optinvent AR Glasses"
PC Mag - "Optinvent Challenges Google Glass with ORA-S AR Headwear"
WIRED - "Wikitude/Optinvent headmounted AR display"
Indian Express - "Can't afford Google Glass? Here's Optinvent ORA for $300'
We are releasing the ORA-1 developer version. A new streamlined model called the ORA-X is scheduled mid 2015.
ORA-1, for developers: Developer version including SDK. Optinvent has already released prototypes of the ORA for certain beta customers. The ORA-1 is our first product aimed at a wider audience. It is a developer platform and is aimed at application developers and profesionals. We made it feature rich and complete to allow a multitude of cool applications to be developed easily.
ORA-X, for consumers: ORA-X is the next product on our roadmap and will be more streamlined for consumers. It is based on a slimmer retinal projector currently in the works. We are planning the release of the ORA-X for mid 2015 and are working with eyewear designers to make it fashionable. The first 100 Kickstarter backers will get the ORA for $300, then the price will go up to $399. At this price, the ORA-X is the most affordable Smart Glass by far!
It might seem crazy to think that the technology from a small start-up would outperform what a tech giant like Google can do…the fact of the matter is, it does!
We, at Optinvent, are a start-up and certainly can't compete on marketing buzz or industrial design with behemoths like Google, Sony, or Epson. However, we are a bunch of highly skilled and experienced engineers in the field of optics with more than 20 years of experience behind us. We've been working on the core technology since 2008, before any of the other guys even dreamt of Smart Glases! Since then, we've managed to develop patented technologies that are orders of magnitude more advanced in many respects; from screen size, to brightness, to power consumption. These technologies are patented, they are proven, and they work. We now want to implement these technologies into our first products.
This is indeed a David vs. Goliath struggle. Help us to make it happen !
We are launching this kickstarter campaign to make the ORA-1 Smart Glasses available to developers everywhere, so they can be part of introducing a new paradigm. Then we want to launch the ORA-X which is a more streamlined version of the glasses for the mass market.
Kickstarter makes this possible and your support is crucial to get there quicker.
We will use the funding in order to build the developer platforms and put in place an app store and forum dedicated to the ORA. This will also prepare the way for the ORA-X. As applications become available, we will put them online on the app store; aptly named AppstORA ;-). A beta version of the AppstORA is already online. Check it out here: AppstORA
Lets build the future together and introduce the most advanced Smart Glasses running the coolest apps to the world!
Cost effective, Scalable, and Proven Technologies.
- The disruptive retinal projection technology at the heart of the ORA is protected by nine international patents. It is based on molded plastic and is the most robust and scalable technology available.
- It has superior performance in terms of power efficiency, display size, and resolution. The see-through virtual display has 3X the surface area and is twice as bright as the competition for an awesome user experience.
- It includes the "Flip-Vu" feature to position the display in two modes (AR and Glance). It makes both "Augmented Reality" and "info snacking" possible with one product.
- The ORA can run apps independently as a standalone Android device and includes a camera, 9 axis sensor, full suite of connectivity (BT, Wi-Fi, GPS), trackpad, and a powerful dual core microprocessor with enough memory to support complex applications.
-
It runs many Android apps natively! We are using a standard version of Android with very little customization.
- It includes the Wikitude AR browser for an AR experience out of the box. Some versions also include the Wikitude AR SDK to build powerful augmented reality applications.
- The ORA is like an Android tablet in the form of eyeglasses. It enables a multitude of mobile computing and AR applications like never before!
These major advantages are key success factors to pave the way for the next paradigm in wearable computing.
ORA Smart Glass - The cutting edge of wearable computing.
The ORA is equipped with an andvanced retinal projection technology. This projector sends a virtual image to the eye and the user sees a floating transparent screen in front of them. This screen can be positioned directly in his line of sight (more immersive) or just below like a head up display (less intrusive). This feature is called "Flip-Vu". The user can interact with the device through a large trackpad as well as issuing voice commands. A capable forward facing camera can be used for POV photography, filming, remote communications, computer vision, object recognition and more. Photochromic lenses (automatically darkening) are also part of the package in order to improve the outdoor user experience.
The ORA is equipped with a dual core processor w/ GPU, 4GB ROM, camera, microphone, sound, trackpad (mouse and swipe), inertial sensors, WiFi, Blootooth, GPS, ambient light sensor, photochromic lenses, and a high capacity rechargeable battery. It also includes a large see-through display that can be positioned in two modes called "Flip-Vu".
Android applications can run locally on the device, so it is not necessary to connect to the cloud or to another smart device. However, wireless connectivity (BT and Wi-Fi) are provided. A complete set of sensors are included to allow applications to take full advantage of the possibilities.
ORA is therefore a complete and powerful wearable device allowing hands free and AR mobile computing applications.
Here's a hands-on at the Wearable Tech Show:
Here's a brief hands-on shot in our lab:
Patented Retinal Projection Technology
Allows see-through vision while displaying a super bright virtual image simultaneously. It has a high see-through ratio, wide viewing angle, is light weight, and shatter proof. Furthermore, it is the most cost effective and scalable approach available as all key components are based on molded plastic.
Below is actual video footage shot outdoors as seen through the ORA-1:
Flip View:
The virtual screen of the ORA has two configurations allowing both "augmented reality" and “glance” modes. This "Flip-Vu" feature allows the image to be either directly in the wearer's field of view or just below. A hardware switch detects the position allowing the applicaiton to adapt the content.
Photochrommic Lenses:
When exposed to sunlight, the ORA’s lenses darken in a few seconds. This increases visual comfort. When no longer exposed to sunlight, the lenses will go back to their clear state.
Vision Correction Clip:
For people who wear eyeglasses, we provide a clip feature which allows you to have perfect vision when wearing the ORA.
Hardware Specifications:
We've packed the ORA with a complete set of hardware features so that virtually any application a creative developer can imagine will run on the platform.
Most products in its class are either non see-through or are based on expensive, and difficult to produce optics.
Our team focused on changing all that. The ORA is the only see-through smart glasses based on a cost effective, scalable, and proven technology.
The SDK makes development easy.
The ORA SDK will include well-documented code, samples, and tutorials to develop new application as easy as possible. The additional API's will help manage the Bluetooth communication layers as well as a few features in order to improve the user interface experience (off board keyboard entry, offboard GPS). ORA uses a stock android OS with very little customization so developing for the ORA is like developing for any other Android device. Currently the ORA runs Android KitKat. In fact, many applications that run on other devices can be easily ported with very little or no effort. We have done this on purpose so that the developer experience can be as friendly as possible. If you are an application developer and are familiar with development on the Android platform, developing for the ORA should be a piece of cake!
Wikitude SDK:
Wikitude is one of the pioneers in mobile augmented reality having developed the first browser back in 2008! Optinvent has partnered with Wikitude to make it possible to develop compelling AR apps easily on the ORA.
Wikitude AR Browser and Wikitude SDK: The ORA-1 also includes the Wikitude augmented reality browser for an AR experience out of the box. Certain pledges also include the Wikitude AR SDK to build powerful augmented reality applications.
The ORA smart glass enables a multitude of hands free mobile computing applications. It can run Android applications as a standalone wearable computer and can connect via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to any smart device.
Compatibility: Many existing Android applications run on the ORA-1 platform natively! Currently the ORA runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat. The ORA-1 can communicate with any smart device that supports Bluetooth and can connect to any hotspot via Wi-Fi.
Click here to take a look at the applications already available for the ORA: AppstORA
A few examples of possible applications to be developed:
ORA-1 is our first product and is a developer platform, not a consumer product. Our goal was to make it feature rich and complete to allow a multitude of cool applications to be developed easily.
The ORA-1 is the critical first step; it proves the platform, introduces it to the developer community and enterprise market, and allows compelling applications to be developed.
ORA-X is the next product on our roadmap and will be more streamlined for consumers. It is based on a new retinal projector currently in the works.
We are planning the release of the ORA-X for mid 2015. We are also working with designers to make them fashionable.
The next gen with a 60% improvement in form factor and 40% improvement in power consomption:
The ORA sets the stage for a paradigm shift from the aging smartphone to the new AR enabled wearable computer.
Founded in 2007, Optinvent's team has developed patented technologies, extensive know-how and manufacturing expertise to deliver cutting edge high technology products. Kayvan Mirza - CEO and Khaled Sarayeddine - CTO have assembled a fantastic team who are extremely passionate about display optics, mobile computing, and AR. Optinvent's team is comprised of highly experienced engineers and experts.
The Founders:
Kayvan Mirza: CEO – building the vision, business and technology
Khaled Sarayedine: CTO - building the team and technology
The Development Team:
Special Thanks to the Optinvent team that made this all happen. Without them, none of this would have been possible. Also special thanks goes out to :
- Daniel Kaylor - For facilitating the campaign
- Andy Gstoll - Wikitude
- Martin Herdina - Wikitude
-
Richard Gunn - For his awesome acting and input for the film
Here's one of our very early adopters. The new generation gets it right away :-)
Risks and challenges
See development timeline above both for the technology and the Kickstarter campaign.
We feel that the risks are quite low since we have already produced several runs of the ORA-1 and have done extensive testing both from a hardware and software standpoint.
Moreover, we have tested several Android applications that are already running on the ORA-1 platform. These can be found on www.optinvent.com/appstORA
We are using a standard and stable version of Android on the current ORA-1.
The see-through retinal projector at the heart of the ORA has already been industrialized and all the key components are already coming out of production molds. The core technology in the ORA-1 is ready for high volume manufacturing using proven suppliers.
The Microdisplay (small LCD projector) is a mature component that is already used in several products already on the market (see update on Himax partnership announcement).
The electronics comprising the ORA are already in production and we are using proven suppliers with volume manufacturing expertise.
The supply chain for the key components of the ORA-1 is already proven and in place.
The risks are therefore minimal for producing the ORA product in volume to deliver our Kickstarter customers.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
Support this project
Funding period
- (60 days)