AR Glasses With Amazon Alexa Shown Off At CES 2018

As yet more evidence that it has become the proving grounds for new technology, the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show saw the introduction of the first augmented reality glasses equipped with Amazon’s Alexa smart assistant. The eyewear is basically like the failed concept Google Glass, but an intelligent machine along for the ride.

It’s worth pointing out that the glasses are not made by Amazon. Rather, it’s being made by a company called Vuzix Corp., Bloomberg reports. The AR glasses enable users to talk to Alexa without bringing out their smartphones or tablets, which serves to help make the smart assistant the ubiquitous technology that Amazon was hoping it would be.

The retail giant is reportedly excited about the prospect of what could potentially be the start of the next major industry, with AR and VR gaining steam. Combined with the prospect of consumers becoming increasingly reliant on their voice-activated smart assistants, the glasses might just pave the way for a new kind of explosive trend.

As USA Today notes, Alexa is found in more and more products with companies integrating the technology in their own offers. Where it was only found in Amazon’s Echo devices, in the beginning, the smart assistant now has access to cars, home security systems, appliances, and it will soon be able to bake cakes.

However, in most cases, consumers inevitably have to leave Alexa behind because they have to go do annoying human stuff that requires work and actually going places like the office. Sure, they could still access the smart assistant via their phones, but that would involve having to keep bringing it out.

With the AR glasses, users can potentially keep in touch with Alexa all the time. They could just wear the glasses to work, to events, or even while sipping coffee at a Café.