This Company Is Making E-Reader Goggles So You Can Read Without Even Holding a Kindle - Gizmodo

Long a staple exertion of physics publication readers, physics insubstantial is yet starting to grow its reach, uncovering its mode into tablets, watches, and even cars, with a caller collaboration astatine CES betwixt E Ink and BMW. But CES besides saw the uncover of an even alien instrumentality based connected physics paper: a wearable instrumentality called the Sol Reader that’s an e-reader you tin deterioration connected your face.

Although definite method limitations forestall physics insubstantial from being utilized arsenic a cosmopolitan replacement for LCDs and OLEDs—you decidedly don’t privation an E Ink TV hanging successful your household room—its method advantages, including low-power gully and a reflective surface that’s easier connected the eyes, marque it perfect for everything from e-readers to e-notes. Where we didn’t expect physics insubstantial to amusement up, even the caller colour varieties, was successful a brace of goggles.

So far, the goggles signifier origin has been reserved mostly for either virtual reality, augmented reality, oregon wearable devices that premix both, leveraging 2 screens to immerse viewers successful 3D worlds oregon experiences. There’s small uncertainty that wearables are the aboriginal of the devices we inactive transportation stuffed distant successful our pockets, but the Sol Reader isn’t looking to regenerate smartphones. Instead, it’s targeting e-readers.

Details astir the instrumentality on its authoritative website are slim, but Brad Lynch, of YouTube’s SadlyItsBradley channel, managed to get immoderate hands-on clip with a prototype of the Sol Reader astatine CES past week, and shared their impressions successful a video. Weighing successful astatine little than 100 grams, the goggles look and consciousness similar a lightweight brace of VR goggles (you can’t spot the satellite astir you portion wearing them) but alternatively diagnostic a brace of physics insubstantial screens down a acceptable of pancake lenses.

The Sol Reader doesn’t contiguous users with 3D interactive virtual worlds, but alternatively allows them to read. You’ll spot what looks similar a publication leafage floating successful a acheronian void successful beforehand of you, oregon supra you erstwhile utilizing the goggles portion laying down, which is seemingly the perfect usage case, arsenic the Sol Reader doesn’t diagnostic a caput strap. Page turning is accomplished done a wireless handheld remote, portion artillery beingness is promised to beryllium adjacent to 30 hours, acknowledgment to the usage of e-paper displays.

Lynch does springiness a quick peek astatine the screens wrong the instrumentality successful the video, which unluckily look disappointingly low-res, but points retired the squad down it has been talking to E Ink astir securing a solution with much resolution. That volition beryllium critical, arsenic the Sol Reader is expected to merchantability for a hefty $350 sometime this year. If the speechmaking acquisition doesn’t travel anyplace adjacent to what a Kindle provides, it’s hard to ideate anyone spending that overmuch wealth connected the wearable erstwhile the Meta Quest 2 is conscionable $50 much and has plentifulness of e-book speechmaking apps disposable for it.