Monocle

Monocle by Brilliant Labs pioneers open-source wearable AR tech, featuring compact smart glasses. It empowers creators with high-fidelity displays, AI acceleration, and a rich developer ecosystem to build innovative augmented reality applications.

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Introduction

What is Monocle?

Monocle, created by Brilliant Labs, is a collection of open-source wearable augmented reality gear, such as the portable Monocle device and Frame smart glasses. These gadgets boast premium optics, vibrant color OLED screens, built-in cameras, microphones, and FPGA acceleration for swift machine learning and computer vision. Tailored for developers, tinkerers, and artists, Monocle cultivates a collaborative community with user-friendly hardware and software, allowing for the design and exploration of AI-enhanced AR apps. The system offers Bluetooth support, an OS based on MicroPython, and comprehensive developer kits to spur creativity in AR.

Key Features

Open-Source Hardware & Software

All hardware blueprints and software code are publicly available, enabling full customization and community contributions.

High-Quality AR Display

Equipped with 640x400 color OLED screens offering a ~20° field of view and slim, lightweight geometric prism optics for engaging visuals.

Integrated Sensors and AI Acceleration

Comprises 720p or 5MP cameras, microphones, a 3-axis accelerometer, e-compass, and FPGA for fast graphics, imaging, and ML tasks.

Developer-Friendly OS and Tools

Operates on a MicroPython or Lua-based OS, supplemented with robust resources like AR Studio for VSCode, Python libraries, and iOS/Android SDKs.

Compact and Lightweight Design

Devices such as Monocle weigh roughly half an ounce, ensuring comfort for extended wear and easy attachment to regular glasses.

Community and Support

Vibrant Discord community featuring frequent AMAs, office hours, competitions, and chances for joint development.

Use Cases

Augmented Reality Development : Construct and trial AR apps, games, and computer vision initiatives using open-source tools.

AI-Powered Visual Assistance : Employ AI models for live image enhancement, object detection, and improved visual aids.

Creative Content Capture : Document and create with built-in cameras for photos, videos, and slow-motion instant replays.

Education and Research : Perfect for academic and experimental pursuits in AR, machine learning, and embedded systems.

Hands-Free Information Access : Access real-time translation, web searches, and contextual data via AR smart glasses while mobile.