In a recent press release, PogoTec Inc. announced they had a breakthrough augmented reality (AR) system designed for the consumer mass market that would also be suitable for widespread use in the enterprise market. Intrigued by both the broad claims of the press release and the lack of details, I got in touch with the company. I had a chance to talk to Ron Blum, O.D., Founder and Chief Visionary Officer about the company and its products including the upcoming PogoAR system. He is unusual in the AR/VR start-up field in that his background is not a “tech” background, but rather his experience is as an eye doctor.
PogoTech’s Ron Blum
PogoTec specializes in products designed to attach to conventional eyewear. Currently its first product, PogoCam is available both on the company’s website and at Amazon.com for $99. This is a small camera that will attach to the frame of virtually any set of eyeglasses, including both prescription glasses and non-prescription sunglasses.
PogoCam attached to a non-prescription sunglass frame (Credit: PogoTec)
Dr. Blum told me the goal of PogoAR was to fit on conventional eyewear and provide an image through the lenses no different from when the AR system is not installed. He said this was unlike conventional AR systems where the viewer was looking through a combiner and the see-through image was often hazy, dim or had other image quality issues.
The mechanical fit, attachment and alignment of a device to eyeglass frames is a significant chore in itself and several of the four issued US patents and 18 published patent applications deal precisely with this issue. Unfortunately, none of these patents or applications discuss the PogoAR system: all are for either the PogoCam or for mounting techniques that would apply either to PogoCam or PogoAR. He told me the first patent applications related to the PogoAR will be published in about six months and, once they become public, he would be happy to discuss the PogoAR technology in more detail with me.
Left: Subject wearing non-prescription sunglasses. Right: Same sunglasses with the PogoAR mock-up attached to the top of the frame. (Credit: PogoTec)
Dr. Blum said the PogoAR would be binocular and, driven by the correct software, able to show 3D images. He said the PogoAR system would be switchable from the clear image of the outside world to the AR mode in less than a second and switch back equally quickly. He declined to say whether the PogoAR system would be see-through, see-around or some other system. He did say, however, it would be possible to drive a car while wearing and using the PoloAR system. He told me the company has solved the basic technical problems associated with its optical design and is just now entering into the product design phase. This design phase will emphasize the human factors aspects of the design, including light weight, low power consumption for long battery life and ease of use. The company expects to have a working prototype in 7 – 12 months.
He told me that, due to the vast number of styles of eyeglass frames on the market, there are likely to be at least two SKU’s for PogoAR when it comes out and perhaps a few more. The versatility of the PogoTec mounting system means it is unnecessary to have a different SKU for every eyeglass frame design. Indeed, that is impossible, since new frames are being introduced all the time. Blum told me that in the eyewear business, fashion trumps function. He speculated this was one of the reasons for the failure of previous consumer AR HMD designs like Google Glass – no one wants to look like a geek.
PogoTec had recently discussed going public with a Regulation A+ Initial Public Offering of up to $32 million and this IPO had been approved by the SEC. The company has since decided not to issue this IPO and it remains a privately held company. –Matthew Brennesholtz
