During Google's annual I/O developer conference the other week, Recon unveiled Jet, their new high performance Heads Up Display (HUD) sunglasses, to the masses. Jet is basically Google Glass targeted at the outdoor set, cramming all of the functionality of your smartphone into a small, unobtrusive display.
As a logical follow up to their HUD snow goggle technology, Recon created a a faster, smaller, and more powerful new platform to work comfortably with a pair of sunglasses. Recon Jet delivers information instantly, effortlessly, and unobtrusively via a microcomputer and high-resolution widescreen display resting in your lower right hand field of vision.
The Recon Jet platform includes a dual core processor, dedicated graphics, Wi-Fi, ANT+, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, HD camera, microphone, speaker, and a comprehensive suite of sensors, basically all the functionality you would find in your smartphone.
By offering an open SDK, Recon is hoping developers will create useful apps to add value to your Jet sunglasses. Native apps currently include live activity tracking (speed, air time, location, maps), video streaming, web and smartphone connectivity for receiving text messages, and even Facebook integration.
You control the HUD by either tapping or swiping across the optical sensor on the side of the sunglasses. Recon is also thinking about some sort of wrist mounted controller in the future. The high quality, polarized optics and microcomputer together weigh only 60 grams, with an interchangeable battery that simply snaps into place.
No details on exact price (somewhere in the $300-$400 range) or release date yet, other than sometime in 2013.