VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA − Recon Instruments is now shipping wearable computer glasses designed for sports and outdoor recreational activities.
The Recon Jet has a dual-core CPU, high-contrast display and point-ofview camera. It connects via Bluetooth Smart to smartphones and wearable sensors, delivering contextually relevant information in real time, just below the wearer’s right eye.
The glasses are purpose-built for active outdoor use, resistant to both water and dust, and feature a modular design with exchangeable lenses to account for changing lighting conditions and a swappable battery for allday performance.
Recon Jet’s has a comprehensive suite of on-board sensors, including GPS, that delivers a portfolio of performance metrics including speed, pace, distance, duration, vertical elevation gain. Extra data points can be added by connecting wireless thirdparty devices via ANT+, allowing users to access heart-rate and cadence metrics in real time.
During an activity, Jet allows the user to stay connected by displaying caller ID and text messages from a paired smartphone.
Jet’s built-in point-of-view camera is instantly accessible to shoot shortform HD video and still images. While Recon has developed its own Recon Engage web platform and mobile apps for iOS and Android, a user’s stats can also be uploaded to leading thirdparty data tracking services including Strava, Training Peaks, MapMyFitness, and others, the company said.
The customizable dashboard lets users tailor their experience by displaying the information that matters to them most.
Measurable achievement helps users stay motivated, and Recon’s online community of family, friends, and fellow athletes bolsters that further, creating an experience that is engaging, interactive, and stimulating, the company said.
Recon Jet includes Wi-Fi and a nine-axis sensor suite. The electronics are distributed across the eyewear to offer better balanced and comfort. Jet is controlled by a touchpad and rocker button designed for use in all weather conditions, even with gloves on. Its design is modular, allowing batteries and lenses to be swapped easily.
“With Jet shipping today, we’ve achieved a huge milestone: delivering on an idea first conceived in 2008, when Recon was founded,” said Dan Eisenhardt, CEO of Recon Instruments. “The product is about more than real-time data delivery. We’ve addressed the entire in-activity experience coordinating performance metrics, smartphone connectivity, video and photo capture, social interactions, and instant content sharing in its design. Jet’s feature set is built for running, cycling and outdoor activities, both serious and recreational, with the goal of helping users not only perform better, but also find amazing motivation and enjoyment.”
Recon offers an open platform and SDK to allow developer to create applications for any activity. Upon launch, apps that power recreational sailing, performance yacht racing, shooting and private aviation are in development, Eisenhardt said. “We’re launching Jet with a feature set built for runners and cyclists, but the opportunity to extend Jet’s utility into completely new use cases is enormous.”
Jet is available initially in select specialty running, cycling, triathlon and outdoor stores; online at Amazon.com; and at ReconInstruments.com with a choice of black or white frame for $699.
