In the year 2025, wearable technology like smart glasses leaves an individual resembling the Unabomber, yet others seem to have an aesthetic preference issue.

Smart Glasses: The Wearable of the Future

The tech world is buzzing with anticipation as major players prepare to unveil their latest innovation – smart glasses. Samsung is rumored to announce its entry into the market at the Galaxy Unpacked event later this month.

While smart glasses may have a futuristic connotation, they are not always-on James Bond spy gadgets. Instead, they serve as a hands-free extension of one's phone, offering a variety of functionalities such as listening to podcasts or discretely watching shows like The Sopranos. The author, for instance, primarily uses smart glasses for these purposes.

The rise in popularity of smart glasses is evident, with an influx expected after several CES 2025 reveals. Emerging AR glasses brands like XREAL and Viture are contributing to this trend, and big-name players such as Samsung, Apple, and Meta are also expected to join the fray. Apple's smart glasses are set for release in 2027, while Meta is expected to unveil a third-generation of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses later this year.

Meta, in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, is planning to launch smart glasses possibly branded with Prada. Apple, on the other hand, is planning a smart glasses release by 2026. Google is in collaboration with Kering Eyewear, Xiaomi is offering affordable AI-powered glasses in Asia, and Samsung and Snap (with their Spectacles) are also set to launch products. TCL is expected to release a cutting-edge color projection model, and these companies are investing heavily to bring consumer-ready smart glasses to market soon.

Despite their practical uses, smart glasses may elicit a distinct "Unabomber chic" reaction from some people. Some may find the posture of smart glasses slightly unnatural on a person's face, much like how Bluetooth headsets were once ridiculed for making middle-aged businessmen look like they were having a psychotic break. However, as with Bluetooth headsets, smart glasses are now considered essential in public.

However, wearing smart glasses in public may cause people to perceive the wearer as a privacy issue, despite the wearer's own willingness to be data-farmed by platforms like TikTok. It's important to note that smart glasses are not used for invading privacy; if the author wanted to do so, they would use platforms like Instagram or apply for a job at Google. The author is not recording people while wearing smart glasses, but rather using them for personal entertainment.

It's not clear how a video of someone eating a breakfast roll on the subway would lead to social media celebrity status. Nonetheless, the potential for smart glasses to revolutionize our daily lives and interactions is undeniable. As more companies join the smart glasses market, it's exciting to see where this technology will take us in the future.

In the year 2025, wearable technology like smart glasses leaves an individual resembling the Unabomber, yet others seem to have an aesthetic preference issue.