Google Glass' Newest Competitor: BMW?

by Jayson Derrick

April 20, 2015 12:36 PM | 2 min read | Make a Comment

BMW on Sunday unveiled its new "Mini Augmented Vision" – a prototype glasses that drivers of its Mini line can wear to drastically improve their driving experience from a utility and safety point of view. According to

re/Code, the glasses gives a Mini driver a "heads-up look at directions and hidden obstacles as well as offering a means of hands-free texting and music control." The publication added that the glasses are connected to a set of cameras on the car's exterior that can even provide "X-ray vision" to see "through" the car to the curb when parking. The glasses work with the Mini's already existing connected car system and is a hybrid of a modern smartphone with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS sensors along with a QUALCOMM, Inc. QCOM processor and Android-based operating system. BMW's strategy is unique in that it is focusing on improving the driver experience at a time when other manufacturers may be focusing on developing fully autonomous technologies. "People who love to drive, that's our customer," Mini product planning manager Patrick McKenna told re/Code.

Google Glass Replacement?

Some may argue that Google Inc GOOG GOOGL hasn't seen the kind of success with its Google Glasses that it had initially hoped so. However, according to The Verge, Mini and its parent company BMW are banking on the fact that it can overcome all the initial problems in the Google Glass, including privacy, fashion, interacting with a device that has few standard control schemes, and battery life. "We think the long-term vision for something on your head where it's a head-up display for your life is super compelling," Qualcomm's augmented reality VP Jay Wright told The Verge. "The challenge is there's a lot of technology required to make it happen." "It became pretty clear to [Qualcomm] that maybe the heads-up display for your life starts out as the heads-up display in your car," Wright added.

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Posted In: News BMW Google Glass Jay Wright Mini Mini Augmented Vision Patrick McKenna re/code The Verge

Benzinga simplifies the market for smarter investing

Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.

Join Now: Free!

Benzinga.com on devices