Augmented Reality Gaming: From AR Headsets to AR Glasses

Companies in the gaming industry have always strived to produce games that are as realistic and action-packed as possible. Most simulation-based games have a main character that has basic characteristics and mannerisms, which gives players a sense of realness. Augmented reality technology gives gaming developers the opportunity to create games that are interactive and put you in the shoes of the main character during gameplay.

Augmented reality is continuing to evolve the gaming industry. Augmented reality is the digital modification of real-world environments with the addition of sound, images, and information. Popular social media apps, Instagram and Snapchat, have all sorts of fun filters. The filters work by scanning users’ faces and overlaying a digital face.

Augmented reality, or AR, dates back to 1968 at Harvard University when scientist Ivan Sutherland created the first AR head-mounted display system. This invention advanced dramatically when other universities, companies, and agencies began to create AR technologies. 

AR didn’t become mainstream until 2008, when companies began to apply AR technology in commercials. The first were the German agencies Buzzin Monkey and Die Agentour GmbH. These agencies created an AR ad for the Mini Cabrio convertible. When holding the advertisement up to a computer camera, the display showed a Mini Cabrio and changed views as you turned the sheet of paper. 

The most common types of augmented reality are heads-up displays, holographic displays, handhelds, and smart glasses. A heads-up display is a transparent display that shows data, location, 3D images, and more on a user’s screen. Holographic displays are an overlay of 3D holograms on the real world. Handheld augmented reality is usually accessible through an app on your mobile device. For example, the IKEA app allows you to try out virtual furniture models and display them in your room. Smart glasses and gaming glasses are computer-capable and are able to retrieve data from computers and display 3D images, information, animations, and more.

With the development of VR headsets and smart glasses, gaming has become more stimulating and engaging. The giants in the augmented gaming reality space are Lenovo’s Star Wars and ThinkReality A3, and Nreal’s Light and Air AR Glasses. 

If you are concerned about the weight or look of AR headsets, you can consider getting a pair of  augmented reality glasses instead. The most recent augmented reality gaming glasses designs have become more lightweight and less noticeable for public use.

In 2021, Lenovo released the ThinkReality A3.ThinkReality A3 glasses feature a sleek design, are lightweight, and tool-free. ThinkReality A3 allows users to create a customized workspace and consume media through AR technology. They provide safety lenses that protect users' eyes, and there are tint and brightness settings that can be tailored to best fit the user's needs. The ThinkReality A3 glasses come with temple/nose bridges, a prescription insert template, and a USB cable. The simplicity of the product design is fascinating in comparison to the complexity of what it can actually do.

Nreal was founded in 2017 and the company launched the very first AR glasses called the Nreal Light in 2019. The design of the Nreal Light and Air glasses combines style with a  futuristic gaming experience, appearing like a traditional pair of sunglasses. No one would ever know if you are wearing AR glasses or not. Nreal was the first AR glasses company with technology that allowed users to connect to the mobile ecosystem. These AR glasses feature built-in spatial sound technology and dual microphones.

AR Glasses nose pads

When you buy a pair of prescription frames or designer sunglasses, you get your glasses adjusted to your face by an optometrist. If your AR glasses don’t fit out of the box, your glasses slide down your nose, which will be frustrating while gaming. 

How to keep glasses from slipping

To enhance the comfort and improve the fit of your new smart gaming glasses and to keep them from falling, eyeglass nose pads and temple tip grips can be applied directly to AR glasses frames. These nose pads for glasses come in different sizes to fit every nose size and shape, and can contain additional anti-slip properties to stop glasses from sliding, especially on sweaty skin.