We really do live in the future, don’t we?
The most recent example of this is a new laptop design from Sightful called the Spacetop G1, which has no screen.
Instead, the futuristic machine uses augmented reality glasses for the entire visualization.
As reported by LaptopMagSightful has partnered with AR glasses maker XReal to create glasses that process all of the device’s visual elements, resulting in a product that has literally never been seen before.
Thanks to the augmented reality element, the display is no longer tied or restricted to the laptop case, so the user has an almost limitless “screen”.
It is a concept known as “spatial computing.”
“For the first time, there is a reason to use spatial computing that stems from an everyday need,” said Sightful CEO Tamir Berliner. “The answer is productivity, and the product is called Spacetop G1.”
The XReal glasses look like chunky Ray Bans and can be stored in a recess in the flap on the lower half of the device.
The concept is cool, but it remains to be seen whether the technology will prevail – which may also be made more difficult by the hefty price tag of $1,900.
“The concept of an AR laptop is certainly an interesting idea, but I see problems in its implementation, especially if it is based on Android,” Emily Wang, co-founder of mixed reality glasses VITURE, told Laptop Mag.
Users cannot run Windows or Mac applications on the device – at least not natively.
The Spacetop G1 runs a customized version of Android, meaning it has more in common with a tablet or smartphone than with a traditional laptop.
The technology is super cool and people with a penchant for gadgets will probably be among the early adopters. But I wouldn’t expect the Spacetop G1 to replace the more traditional laptop anytime soon.
“For many, what they get may not be worth as much as the sacrifices they make for it,” Wang said.
This laptop of the future might be a little ahead of its time.
If you found this interesting, you might also like to read about a quantum computer simulation where time is “reversed” and physics may never be the same again.
