If you think people are distracted now using
cell phones,
iPods, and
Game Boys, just wait. Because what may be the ultimate in "eye catchers" is being introduced in Japan Tuesday, and if it catches on, you can expect the world to look more like one of those old sci fi movies.
The "Teleglass T3-F" is a pair of glasses that comes with a tiny TV screen that can hinge over one eye, allowing the wearer to view a small video screen and literally take their favourite show with them wherever they go. The device measures about 2 centimetres across or about 0.8 inches and weighs roughly an ounce. It can be hooked into an
iPod or cell phone so the user can see what's on that screen without having to look down.
"By using this gadget, you can enjoy watching videos with one eye while looking at people and the surroundings," explains Daizo Kiyohara, of
Scalar, which makes the product. The company sees the initial use for weary commuters who face long subway or train rides and simply want to watch the latest video or catch up on their TV viewing.
But there are other applications envisioned as well, including giving surgeons a closer look at what they're doing in an operating room. The gadget will sell for about Cdn$875, but you have to buy a new set of frames for the glasses to accommodate the hinged-like device.
There's no word on when they might be available in Canada and the company expects its "TV glasses" won't get high ratings right out of the gate. Scalar hopes to sell about 3,000 of the units to early adopters and see how widely accepted they become.
But don't be surprised if you see someone walking down the streets of Toronto in the near future getting an eyeful - and they're not even looking at anything on the street.
Photo credit: Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images