It seems that “The World of Tomorrow”(yes, a Simpsons reference) may be coming to the world of today sooner much than later with BMW announcing the Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses as part of their new accessories range.
The glasses will enable motorbike riders to bring about the science fiction technology into reality as it will provide heads-up display technology that is rather familiar within the automotive world. The glasses will display relevant details by connecting to the rider’s smartphone via Bluetooth and BMW app with settings being able to be configured through the microcontroller on the handlebars. The position of the details can be moved about and customized so as to not intrude on the riders visibility while riding.
The glasses have been configured in that they would meet the special needs of motorcyclist through their design, while they remain comfortable to the wearer; especially on the long rides. The glasses have also been adapted to fit to multiple helmets and are also offered in two sets of UVA/UVB lenses.
We truly wonder how the glasses would impact the motorcycle community and if they would be a sufficient uptake on them, also considering that they provide real-time GPS details and will be seen as a benefit from a safety aspect where the rider is considered.
Some of the features includes the ability to display speed, speed limit, gear and navigation (reduced arrow display or detailed navigation with street names, intersections and precise directions), integrated light sensor and integrated optics module for securely transferring data and securely displaying data on the top left of the right glass. The glasses also have a lithium-ion battery that can provide upto 10 hours of operation.
The below video would provide better clarity:
*Still to be confirmed on whether they will be available for the South African market
