Smart glasses shipments are likely to have a muted adoption in 2020, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the enterprises in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are more likely to adopt smart glasses in their production lines and warehouse logistics for remote assistance to continue the operations by maintaining social distancing, says GlobalData.
Currently, the frontline healthcare staff such as doctors, nurses and other associated people are more vulnerable to the COVID-19. In order to avoid close contact with patients, hospital staff started using smart glasses to monitor patients and conduct hands-free virtual trainings.
Not only hospitals but also law enforcement agencies in the region are using smart glasses to detect symptomatic COVID-19 carriers at public places by using features like facial recognition and thermal imaging on smart glasses.
Manish Chaurasiya, Senior Technology Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “In recent times, start-ups across the region have begun offering smart glasses with technologies such as augmented reality, artificial intelligence, thermal imaging, and facial recognition to detect potential COVID-19 carriers, monitor social distancing, detect quarantined individuals who are breaking the law and Identify people without masks.”
Sensing the vast revenue potential in smart glasses segment, leading technology companies like Reliance Jio, Huawei and Amazon have ventured into this segment to grab a significant portion of the market share and compete with the global incumbents like Snap, Google and Seiko Epson.
Mr Chaurasiya continues: “Reportedly, global tech giants such as LG and Apple plan to enter into the smart glasses segment by launching AR smart glasses in coming years. This will surely drive the adoption of smart glasses globally as well as in APAC in the coming years.”
Prominent vendors like Snap and Vuzix have already launched new products for consumers and enterprises in APAC with advanced features like HD camera, improved storage capacity, optical performance and efficiency. With this, they are primarily targeting new buyers and enticing existing users for upgradation.
Mr Chaurasiya concludes: “With new product features, new entrants and emerging applications, smart glasses segment is expected to witness significant growth in APAC despite the COVID-19 induced uncertainty.”
