Spectacles

Spectacles are the next generation of augmented reality glasses developed by Snap Inc., designed to merge the digital and physical worlds in a seamless and intuitive way. These are not just smart glasses for recording video; they are standalone, true AR glasses powered by the dedicated Snap OS. The core philosophy behind Spectacles is to create shared experiences, allowing users to play, learn, and work together by interacting with digital content overlaid onto their real-world view. With see-through lenses, Spectacles ensure that users remain connected to their surroundings and the people around them, making AR a social and integrated part of daily life. The glasses are lightweight and feature advanced technology, including a powerful suite of sensors, a dual system-on-a-chip architecture, and a vibrant waveguide display, all designed to deliver a compelling and immersive AR experience. At its heart, Spectacles leverages Snap's powerful ecosystem, including the integrated 'My AI' for multi-modal generative AI tasks and Lens Studio for development.

How to use Spectacles

The use of Spectacles is tailored for both creators and developers, with a clear pathway for building and experiencing AR content.

For Developers and Creators:

1. Join the Developer Program: The primary way to acquire Spectacles is by applying to the Spectacles Developer Program. This involves downloading the latest version of Lens Studio on a Windows or Mac computer.
2. Apply in Lens Studio: Launch Lens Studio, where a form to apply for the program will be available. The program is a subscription-based service designed for active development.
3. Develop with Lens Studio: Once accepted and equipped with Spectacles, developers use Lens Studio to create AR experiences (Lenses). The Spectacles Interaction Kit (SIK) SDK is provided to accelerate the development of interactive spatial experiences.
4. Test and Deploy: Developers can use features like multiplayer simulation in Lens Studio to test shared experiences. They can also leverage SnapML to integrate custom machine learning models for object tracking and interaction, blending physical and virtual objects.

For General Experience:

1. Connect to the Ecosystem: Spectacles connect directly to Snapchat and the Spectacles App on your phone.
2. Interact with Lenses: Launch immersive Lenses to augment your surroundings, play games, or visualize information.
3. Use My AI: Interact with the built-in multi-modal AI to browse web results, generate 3D assets, or get contextual information.
4. Share Your View: Use the Spectator Mode in the Spectacles App to share your first-person AR experience with friends.

Core Features of Spectacles

• True AR Display: Features a 46° field of view, 37 pixel-per-degree stereo waveguide display with see-through lenses and automatic tint for sharp, bright images in various lighting conditions.
• Snap OS: A dedicated operating system designed for a natural and intuitive AR interface, eliminating a steep learning curve.
• Integrated Multi-modal AI: 'My AI' is built-in, allowing users to use voice and contextual awareness to browse web results, generate 3D assets, and receive spatially-aware information.
• Advanced Sensors and Tracking: A full suite of cameras and sensors enables robust environmental understanding, contextual awareness, and full 6-degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) tracking.
• Lens Studio Development Platform: A powerful and accessible tool for creating sophisticated AR Lenses. It includes the Spectacles Interaction Kit (SIK) and SnapML for custom ML models.
• Shared Experiences: Designed for multiplayer and social interaction, allowing multiple users to engage with the same AR content in a shared space.
• Spectacles Companion App: Enables features like Spectator Mode, phone mirroring to view apps in your glasses, and using your phone as a 6DoF controller.

Use Cases for Spectacles

Spectacles unlock a wide range of applications across various fields:

• Collaborative Gaming and Entertainment: Friends can join a shared Lens to play an interactive AR game together in a park or living room.
• Creative Arts and Expression: Artists can create and place persistent 3D digital sculptures in public spaces for others to discover and interact with.
• Professional Design and Visualization: Architects and designers can review 3D models of buildings or products in a real-world context, collaborating with colleagues in a shared session.
• Interactive Education: Students can learn about anatomy by viewing a 3D, interactive model of the human body in their classroom, or explore historical sites with digital reconstructions overlaid on the real location.

Advantages of Spectacles

• Deep Ecosystem Integration: Leverages the massive user base and creative tools of Snapchat, providing a ready-made platform for distribution and social sharing.
• Developer-Centric Approach: Provides robust, well-documented tools like Lens Studio, SIK, and SnapML, empowering developers to build complex experiences relatively easily.
• Focus on Social AR: Unlike many AR devices focused on solitary use, Spectacles are built from the ground up for shared, collaborative experiences.
• Advanced, Lightweight Hardware: Packs incredible technology into a compact, lightweight glasses form factor that is comfortable for extended use.

Pricing and Plans

Spectacles are currently available primarily through the Spectacles Developer Program, which is a subscription service. This model is designed for developers, creators, and studios committed to building on the platform.

• Standard Subscription: $99 USD per month, €110 (incl. VAT) per month, or CA$139 per month. A 12-month commitment is required.
• Educational Pricing: Students and teachers at accredited institutions are eligible for a reduced rate of $49.50 USD / €55 / CA$69.50 per month.

This subscription includes the use of one Spectacles device and access to the development ecosystem. Availability is limited to select countries.