Google Glass Was Ugly, but Facebook’s AR Baseball Hat Might Actually Be Worse

One of the biggest hurdles for augmented realness devices is design : No one wants to wear out an obvious gadget on their face . Realizing the issues Google Glass had with gain consumer traction , it seems Facebook may embrace a alone design for a hereafter wearable . Folks , it ’s a baseball hat .

In a patent that was originally lodge back in 2019 andfinally issue this week , originally spotted byFounders Legal , Facebook describes the blueprint for its forward - thinking headgear as an alternative to traditional AR headsets and goggles which the company claims are “ sometimes thick , heavy , and unbalanced and/or may generated excessive rut that is uncomfortable against the substance abuser ’s skin . ”

So instead of a more sci - fi design , Facebook is perchance creating a hat that uses its brim to hold a “ display subsystem ” that can be folded up or down as needed . In its letters patent filing , Facebook uses a baseball game hat to demonstrate the concept , but further descriptions and illustrations delineate a intention that could be applied to a wide range of lid styles , including cowman hat , visors , and , of course of instruction , fedoras .

Illustration: Facebook via the USPTO

It might depend exceedingly dizzy , but in its letters patent filing Facebook says there are some illustrious advantage of a pattern like this . It makes it easier to place potentially hot electronics far away from someone ’s face , thereby increase overall comfort and wearability . Also , by using brimmed hat , Facebook says there is more airfoil arena to install AR components , potentially allowing Facebook to design a more advanced or sophisticated twist .

Because the brim of a hat lead outward from the drug user ’s side , Facebook says there ’s also more elbow room to include things like camera for eye , face , and even eubstance - trailing . But what might be the biggest advantage to designing an AR headset around a brimmed hat is that if you ’re not using the attached display , you may plainly flip it up and make it look like a veritable hat — or at least that ’s the estimation .

Facebook ’s AR vision does n’t finish there . The company also imagines its AR lid could be able to connect to additional AR supplement like control , phones , computers , or other haptic devices , which you may see in the wonderfully illustrated trope above . This means Facebook ’s AR chapeau could serve as a wearable computer plan to power a whole new coevals of AR tech .

When not in use, Facebook imagines that the AR hat’s display could be flipped up, so you don’t have to feel awkward all the time while wearing it.

When not in use, Facebook imagines that the AR hat’s display could be flipped up, so you don’t have to feel awkward all the time while wearing it.Illustration: Facebook via the USPTO

And in case you ’re worried about that flip - down showing blocking your pot when in enjoyment , Facebook aver the video display may also be semi - transparent , allowing you to see the real world and a computer overlay at the same prison term .

Now as easy as it is to poke fun at Facebook ’s AR hat patent , it ’s hard to fault Facebook for try . Microsoft , Apple , HTC , and more are all work on create their own next - gen AR headsets , so it ’s get to the energy for connected AR devices is going to be a major trend in the coming twelvemonth . And with no company having really apprehend the design for AR glasses that are comfortable , stylish , and well-off to employ , it ca n’t hurt to think a bit outside of the corner .

I think AR devices that count more like glass than hats will eventually win out , but while we wait for miniature display and projector to improve , at least we have this patent filing for entertainment .

Doesn’t this look cool?