In Augmented Reality News
September 12, 2024 – Phantom Technology, a developer of consumer-priced AI smart glasses that offer an augmented reality (AR) interface for Android and iOS mobile devices, has today emerged from stealth with its first product offering. The ‘Journey Lens’ smart glasses are the first “invisible technology” consumer-priced AI glasses from the company.
According to Phantom Technology, Journey Lens fulfills several important purposes, including helping users manage their ability to focus on specific tasks and avoiding digital distractions, as well as providing assistance through conversational AI.
Weighing just 40 grams and offering an all-day battery life, the Journey Lens smart glasses utilize a novel biometric sensor technology and software algorithms to measure a user’s focus on particular tasks. Utilizing sensors built into the nose piece of the glasses’ panto-style frame, eye movements are read and Phantom-designed algorithms can utilize this data to determine user focus. Based on this data, the glasses can then provide both guidance and suggestions to improve user productivity, increase relaxation or achieve a user-defined state-of-mind, according to the company.
Journey Lens utilizes Bluetooth to bi-directionally sync data between the glasses and the user’s Android or iOS device, allowing the wearer to privately see mobile alerts and discreetly respond while keeping their mobile device in their pocket. All notifications sent to the glasses are either seen in the wearer’s field of view, or discreetly heard via speakers built into the Journey Lens.
The glasses also feature a 2K camera built discreetly into the frame, a privacy-enhanced AI capability (powered by a conversational voice interface), a built-in microphone for allowing voice commands, and more.
Even without power, Journey Lens operates as a standard pair of stylish prescription glasses or sunglasses, starting at what the company states is an “extremely aggressive” price point of just USD $195 for the frames. When compared to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which do not feature a heads-up display (HUD) and retail for USD $299, Phantom Technology’s first consumer offering does seem like a solid contender to potentially be the leading pair of consumer AR smart glasses.
“After five years of intensive R&D and three pivots, we are finally exiting stealth and announcing the fruits of many thousands of man-hours of development in both hardware and software – the Journey Lens,” said Farbod Shakouri, CEO and cofounder of Phantom Technology, Ltd.
“There have been many previous attempts to combine AR, AI and prescription eyewear over the last few years, all in varying degrees of success and/or failure. We believe the Journey has hit the consumer sweet spot of sub-$200 pricing and solves the problem of digital screen addiction without resorting to unusual form factors or expensive price points – Journey Lens is for tech savvy professionals, at any age, who want a better relationship with technology.”
Journey Lens’ modalities include:
- Discovery Lens – allows users to discover the world around them through the power of AI all in their immediate vision through the glasses;
- Focus Compass – guides user attention, building healthier habits in the process;
- Smart Companion – provides real-time help with daily tasks through conversational AI;
- Life Journal – allows users to capture thoughts, practice mindfulness, while they record a unique first-person view.
The company is currently funded by a USD $900,000 pre-seed round by SFC Capital, angels and government grant funding. It is also now entering its Seed-level funding round and is in discussions with interested investors.
Phantom Technology stated that Journey Lens will be launching in Q1 2025, with pre-orders available starting today. The company will offer a subscription-based model with fees ranging from USD $7 to USD $18 per month. For more information on plan pricing specifics, visit the company’s website.
Image credit: Phantom Technology
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About the author
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.