North Hopes to Be the Warby Parker of Smart Glasses
Justin Lam — October 25, 2018 — Tech
References: business.financialpost & theverge
Formerly known as Thalmic Labs, North has recently rebranded with the goal of offering affordable connected glasses at brick-and-mortar locations. Launching with its new Focals glasses, North hopes to capture the same success seen in Warby Parker but with a focus on tech-infused glasses. The Focals currently serve as the flagship glasses for North and are modeled after a pair of thick-rimmed, black hipster-esque glasses.
Each pair of Focals features a tiny, color laser in the right arm. This laser displays information from a smartphone to a user and connects via Bluetooth. The laser bounces off a piece of polymer creating a 15-degree viewing area that’s about 300 x 300 pixels. While the Focals are affordable connected glasses, the wearables still manage to impress users and functions as intricate utility machines.
Image Credit: Peter J. Thompson/Financial Post
Each pair of Focals features a tiny, color laser in the right arm. This laser displays information from a smartphone to a user and connects via Bluetooth. The laser bounces off a piece of polymer creating a 15-degree viewing area that’s about 300 x 300 pixels. While the Focals are affordable connected glasses, the wearables still manage to impress users and functions as intricate utility machines.
Image Credit: Peter J. Thompson/Financial Post
Trend Themes
1. Affordable Connected Glasses - There is an opportunity for businesses to offer affordable tech-infused glasses like North's Focals that serve as intricate utility machines while still being fashionable and accessible.
2. Brick-and-mortar Retail of Smart Glasses - The success of Warby Parker proves that there is an opportunity for North and other companies to offer smart glasses in brick-and-mortar locations, making them more accessible to consumers.
3. Disrupting Traditional Eyewear Industry - The innovation of smart glasses by companies like North has the potential to disrupt the traditional eyewear industry, making glasses not just a medical necessity, but a lifestyle accessory.
Industry Implications
1. Eyewear Industry - Companies in the eyewear industry need to keep up with technological advancements and offer more tech-infused products to stay competitive and cater to changing consumer demands.
2. Retail Industry - The success of Warby Parker and North's brick-and-mortar approach to selling innovative glasses suggests there is an opportunity for disruptors in the retail industry to offer more cutting-edge, accessible products.
3. Technology Industry - The emergence of affordable connected glasses like North's Focals highlights the potential innovation opportunities in the technology industry, particularly in wearables and smart devices.
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