Finnish eyewear brand IXI is set to release smart glasses that look like standard frames but can “autofocus” based on what the wearer needs. This innovation aims to make life easier for those who struggle with traditional glasses.
The new glasses use eye-tracking sensors and liquid crystals to adjust the prescription in real-time. Unlike bifocals or varifocals, which have fixed areas for distance and near vision, IXI’s glasses adapt seamlessly as you look around. The CEO, Niko Eiden, likens it to modernizing older technology. Traditional bifocal lenses, invented by Benjamin Franklin, have distinct sections for different distances, while varifocals, introduced in the 1960s, create smoother transitions but still come with limitations.
Varifocals often distort peripheral vision and can be tough to get used to. The IXI glasses, on the other hand, promise a larger reading zone positioned more effectively for users. Eiden highlights that the entire lens can be used for distance viewing, making it much easier for those accustomed to using glasses for far sight.
However, IXI acknowledges some challenges. These glasses will need to be charged regularly and have a magnetic charging port cleverly hidden in the frame. Although they will weigh roughly the same as ordinary glasses, users may notice visual distortions in the lens’s edges, but the clear center should enhance the reading experience.
In terms of safety, especially for tasks like driving, IXI is still testing the glasses. If something goes wrong, the glasses are designed to default to a basic distance vision setting, ensuring the wearer can still see clearly.
Experts see promise in this technology. Ian Murray, a visual neuroscience professor at the University of Manchester, finds the concept feasible but notes caution. Questions remain about the viewing field and low-light performance.
This isn’t the only company diving into smart eyewear. Similar products are emerging, like those from Japan’s Elcyo and ViXion. IXI’s glasses, expected to launch in Europe initially, aim for FDA approval in the U.S. later.
In essence, IXI is shaking up the eyewear market, akin to how autofocus transformed photography. Eiden believes future generations will look back at traditional glasses with curiosity. As technology advances, the way we see the world might finally match how we want to experience it.
