Snapchat Spectacles Prescription Lenses Are Coming
Snapchat Spectacles owners who ordinarily need prescription lenses will soon be able to add them to the coveted video-sharing glasses. Spectacles, the unexpected must-have of late 2016 that have prompted block-circling lines wherever the company's pop-up vending machine appears, are still commanding a premium on eBay for those who can bear to part with their pair. However, left out of the fun are those whose vision would normally demand they cough up for prescription sunglasses.
That's set to change soon, however, one third-party prescription lens vendor has confirmed today. Rochester Optical has announced that it can now supply corrective inserts for Spectacles, meaning those who are short or long sighted can snap their lives hands-free without running the risk of bumping into things or falling off curbs.
It's not the first time Rochester Optical has weighed into the wearable tech space. The company was the first to offer a prescription lens option for Google Glass, back in 2014, some time before Google itself put out a range of frames suitable for aftermarket lenses. However, it also caters for a variety of other head-mounted displays, including those from Vuzix, Epson, Recon, and Microsoft's HoloLens.
Rochester's system doesn't generally replace the lenses in each of the devices, but instead clips into place alongside them. Exactly how that works depends on the individual eyewear, but usually takes the form of a minimalistic partial-frame with
nose pads and some sort of mounting bracket. Assuming the same will be true for Spectacles, the prescription set of lenses will presumably fit behind the regular tinted plastic.
It's unclear at this stage as to how much Rochester will charge for the prescription upgrade; the company says it will spill all the details tomorrow. However, its HoloLens insert is currently up for preorder at $99, including frame and bracket, the lenses themselves, and various special coatings. Frame inserts for Epson's Moverio headsets start at $199, meanwhile. Given that Spectacles themselves are only $130, the premium which those requiring custom lenses would be willing to pay seems fairly moderate.
While initial demand for Spectacles was huge, with buyers waiting several hours in lines, prices have dwindled from the $1k+ original seen on sites like eBay. In fact, if you don't want to head out to the temporary Snapchat store in New York City and queue there, or wait for another vending machine to pop-up elsewhere in the country, you can now find a set for around $300. That's still a fair amount for a low-resolution camera that only works with Snapchat, but probably a lot less painful than NYC in winter.
SOURCE Twitter