When you think about wearable technology and Android, Google Glass immediately comes to mind. However, for those of you who weren’t lucky enough to shell out $1500 in Google’s “If I Had Glass” competition, or are too impatient to wait for the commercial release, there is the Recon Jet Pilot Edition by Recon Instruments.
The Recon Petpack is a heads-up display (HUD) that is geared specifically towards athletes. They specifically mention that it is designed for endurance-type sports such as cycling, running, and triathlons. The form factor is built into high quality, polarized sunglasses, making the device incredibly secure and comfortable. As far as the internals go, the specifications are as follows:
- 9-Axis sensors including 3D accelerometer, 3D gyroscope, 3D magnetometer, pressure sensor, ambient temperature sensor, and an optical touch sensor for UI control
- Weather-proof and full functionality with gloves
- Wide screen 16:9 WQVGA display
- 1 GHz Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A9 processor
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB internal storage
- Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11a/b/g/n)
- Bluetooth 4.0 (Bluetooth Smart)
- Apple MFi Bluetooth support
- GPS
- Integrated speaker and microphone
The device is equally weighted so the display that is on the right side will not make the glasses feel uneven or uncomfortable. While the device does run Jelly Bean, don’t expect to see any evidence of that in the user interface. In addition to telling you the speed, pace, distance, time, and vertical ascent of your actions, the display will also tell you things such as your heart rate, cadence and power output. The device is also capable of displaying your caller ID and text messages, allowing you to stay in touch with your friends and family as much as you want. The company is aiming to make the device very developer friendly to push the boundaries and other possibilities of what it can do.
While there isn’t any word on if the device can be removed from the included sunglasses or what happens if the sunglasses break or become scratched, we will likely have more information in the coming months. The device goes on sale today starting at just $499, a full $1000 cheaper than Google Glass. However, after July 21st, the price will jump up to $599. Recon Instruments is expected to ship the device by the end of the year.
