It's January and lots of things are happening at Las Vegas. Whilst we are all waiting for the SHOT Show 2015 to hear about the latest in firearms and airsoft technologies, right now we can learn more about consumer gadgets on display right now at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). What probably is an interesting gadget is the Sony SmartEyeglass Attach which is being discussed at different tech sites and blogs.

We are fascinated with the Heads Up Displays (HUD) that we can use for everday use. There are two well-known releases, the first is Google Glass, which is not taking off perhaps due to people not wanting to have an always on smartglass, and the Recon Jet from Recon Instruments which can be used for athletic purposes and now being used as a base smartglass for tactical purpose.

The proposition of the Sony SmartEyeglass Attach is allowing the user to immediately convert any existing eyewear, be it spectacles, sunglasses, or protective eyewear into a Smartglass.  This means that they can reduce cost of the Smartglass since there's no need to purchase the actual eyeglass/sunglass itself. Use it with any existing eyewear you have.

This means that for airsoft players, they can use their Oakley SIs, Wiley-X, Revision, Bolle, and all the other protective eyewear certified safe for use in airsoft together with the Sony SmartEyeglass Attach provided there is a frame to which it can be attached to.

There is still much to learn about this product so we'll have to find more information on the various uses and what applications can be developed with it. If it is compatible with mobile devices such as smartphones using Android or iOS, then application developers can the apps needed to exploit the capabilities of this gadget. For airsoft, milsim apps such as mission objectives, maps, rules, and team coordination and sharing of information can be used with it.

The Smartglass technology is still slowly making its way as people are still hesitant to wear something that would make them look like the Borg. Perhaps Sony's SmartEyeglass Attach is something that can help lower that resistance.

Press release below:

Sony Announces the Development of a Compact, Lightweight Single-Lens Display Module with OLED Technology That Enables Superior Image Quality

When attached, turns eyewear into a smart device capable of displaying visual information

With this module, Sony has achieved a compactness of size and a lightness of weight that make it possible to attach the module to a piece of eyewear. It accomplished this by equipping the device with a High-Resolution Color OLED Microdisplay, a Micro-Optical Unit that brings out the full potential of the display's high image quality, and a miniaturized control board with arithmetic processing capabilities on par with smartphones that was made possible by high-density packaging technology.

This display module possesses the potential to enrich users' lives in a variety of ways. By simply attaching it to a pair of fashionable glasses, goggles, sunglasses, or other type of eyewear, you can instantly gain access to visual information that adds a level of convenience to your everyday life. The module also has potential applications in sports or for work, among other areas, displaying helpful information that supports you in the activity you are engaged in. And this is all done in a small sub-window that does not obstruct your field of vision. Because the module is easily attachable/detachable, you can use it only when you want to, and you have the option to store it away if it does not suit the occasion. Sony's new module presents the opportunity to begin incorporating glasses-style smart devices into your life in a comfortable, easy way.

Sony is aiming to start mass production of this display module within the coming year. It is looking to provide the product to a wide variety of potential customers, from eyewear makers whose pieces are tailored for specific uses such as sports or entertainment, to electronics manufacturers who are considering pairing their products with wearable devices, to companies that provide business solutions utilizing wearable devices. By making the product available to such a wide range of outlets, Sony will promote the adoption of wearable devices in new areas, thereby contributing to the further development of the market. Sony will also provide software development kits (SDK) to partnering organizations for this Single-Lens Display Module boasting rich arithmetic processing capabilities, thereby embarking on a new commercial solutions business that will broaden the world of wearable devices.