With its newly unveiled XR1 intelligent AR headset, Qualcomm reinvents the workspace and designs the optimized and efficient work of the future.
Currently, wireless glasses for augmented reality have not yet become consumer products. The AR viewer is more of a field of exploration, and any new product becomes a "small standard" immediately studied, improved, amended by various companies.
This new headset takes an exciting new look at the future of augmented reality and its role in our daily life.
XR1, Smart AR Viewer
You know it well: while virtual reality immerses the user in an entirely virtual world, AR improves the physical space we occupy. Qualcomm, in particular, imagines that an augmented reality headset can increase productivity and optimize the use of a workspace.
For example, users can access the internet on a huge screen in a public place or view multiple screens without physical monitors.
The features of XR1
The XR1 was designed as a “smart” headset with two speakers, three microphones and a high-resolution display.
An integrated audio system and the 0,71″ micro OLED display, with a Full HD resolution of 1920 × 1080 at 90 Hz, guarantee the headset a high-quality and immersive augmented reality experience.
The viewer is built with its own built-in computing capability, and can distribute IT workloads between it and the host device. Thanks to tracking sensors and cameras, XR1 performs head and hand monitoring and gesture recognition. This gives users the freedom to move around the room and maximize their workspace.
How it works
The XR1 reference design, in summary, is an intelligent AR headset that can flexibly connect to multiple mounts. The Qualcomm team is currently working on a 2D app framework that will make it possible to open 2D smartphone apps as virtual windows on the headset. This means that apps like Instagram and Facebook will be projected on a large virtual screen over space, any flat surface or even in mid-air.
XR1 certainly looks heavier and bulkier than most sunglasses. There's no doubt, though, that the headset's design is a huge step forward from typical VR glasses. We'll see what the next evolutions will be.
