Augmented reality smartglasses are getting a boost from National Aeronautics and Space Administration today as the space agency is announcing it is teaming up with Osterhout Design Group to explore the use of ODG’s smartglasses for exploratory activities.
The two will collaborate on the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to advance NASA’s future missions in space. That means that astronauts could one day get access to advanced computing and visualization technologies via smartglasses.
ODG has spent the last six years developing a new generation of smartglasses for government, enterprise, and consumer markets. It has packed thousands of dollars of technology into a compact new design that works in mobile environments. The aim is to let users do with smartglasses what they can do with touchscreen tablets.
Packed with positional sensors, the glasses know where you are, where you’re looking, and how you’re moving, enabling precise AR and exciting VR experiences in even the most demanding environments, the company said.
“ODG’s smartglasses are revolutionizing the way we explore information and interact with our environments and each other,” said Ralph Osterhout, Founder and CEO of ODG, in a statement. “ODG and NASA share an unwavering commitment to advance technology and today’s announcement is a vote of confidence in the power, promise, and possibility of headworn augmented reality technology.”
One potential use by NASA is Assisted Reality software, which enables line of sight check lists, guided support via telepresence, and the ability to overlay digital markers on machinery or equipment while keeping the user’s eyes and hands focused on their task. The tech can make the accuracy and efficiency of astronauts’ in-flight activities better during long space missions.