RealWear debuted its ‘RealWear Navigator™ 500’ immersive mixed reality (MR) headset on Monday to improve safety, comfort, and productivity for frontline workers.
The US firm’s latest product follows its flagship RealWear HMT-1 augmented reality (AR) headset, which is used by enterprises such as Volkswagen, BMW, and Total.
Qualcomm powers the HMT-1 with its popular Snapdragon 625 processor, improving the performance, safety, and communications for key workers.
RealWear is also expanding the HMT-1’s capabilities by introducing the RealWear Navigator™ 500 as a unique ‘assisted reality’ solution.
Andrew Chrostowski, Chairman and CEO for RealWear, said his firm’s goal to develop a “new way to work is very much in focus, particularly for industrial frontline workers.”
The CEO added his company was “unveiling something far bigger than a product,” adding,
“The RealWear Navigator™ 500 delivers the next generation of work with a ‘reality-first, digital-second’ enterprise solution for remote collaboration, operational efficiency, and hybrid work in safety-critical industries”
Assisted Reality for Frontline Workers
RealWear’s new HMD combines innovative hardware and software to provide a voice-based, hands-free experience to workers to safely perform tasks over an extended period of time.
The firm refers to the RealWear Navigator™ 500 as an ‘assisted reality’ device, a concept similar to AR, although the company has developed its modular assisted reality platform as a less invasive and non-immersive version of AR.
The Vancouver, Washington-based firm designed the Navigator 500 for frontline workers requiring constant high situational awareness and less visual distractions.
The assisted reality platform also gives workers a minimal digital environment to operate in hazardous work environments safely while using the headset.
Andrew explained:
“[The assisted reality system was] designed specifically for the frontline worker who requires both hands for the job, striking the perfect balance of keeping workers 100 [percent] present and self-aware with the ability to safely navigate industrial surroundings”
Additionally, the lightweight device allows workers to wear the RealWear Navigator™ 500 for extended periods of time while remaining just as rugged and durable as the previous HMT-1 range of smart glasses.
Navigator 500 Features
On top of its unique assisted reality selling point, the RealWear Navigator™ 500 has a selection of built-in features such as:
- An upgradeable 1080p, 48 megapixel camera for remote guidance and streaming
- A ‘hot-swappable’ battery to enable long and uninterrupted periods of use
- Cloud-based remote collaboration, design, and artificial intelligence applications ready to go, as well as 200 officially supported and optimised enterprise applications
- WiFi, 5G, and soon 6G compatibility for low-latency, real-time 3D streaming
- Voice-controlled user interface (UI) navigation for true hands-free and paperless workflows
- Built-in noise-cancellation to assist with the voice-commands
Dan Purtell, RealWear Partner and Group Innovation Director at the British Standard Institute, explained that the new features added enormous value to an enterprise, stating,
“RealWear has doubled down on what we value in the HMT-1. Adding a modular design, hot-swappable battery and improved camera will expand our use cases and unlock even more value for our clients”
Look Forward: The Future of Frontline Work
The news comes as RealWear prepares to host its ‘Look Forward’ livestream later on Wednesday evening at 9am PT, where the firm will host a series of speakers to discuss current digital transformation opportunities available for frontline workers.
Get ready! You don’t want to miss this major event.
NOTE! Tomorrow at 9am PT, we will be live tweeting here, and don’t miss the live stream event at https://t.co/Ns4h9M3Vdy.
Sign up now!#LookForward #Industry40 pic.twitter.com/97KI4il7lf
— RealWear, Inc (@realwearinc) December 7, 2021
RealWear will stream the major event online and registration is still open to the general public.
