Finnish Company IXI Unveils Innovative Autofocus Smart Glasses

Finnish eyewear company IXI is set to launch a revolutionary pair of smart glasses that can automatically adjust their lenses based on the user’s vision needs. Unlike traditional bifocal or varifocal lenses, these innovative glasses use eye-tracking sensors and liquid crystal technology to provide real-time adjustments, enhancing the visual experience for wearers.

The new glasses aim to address the limitations of existing options. Bifocal lenses, first popularized by Benjamin Franklin in the late 18th century, are divided into two sections for distance and near vision. Varifocal lenses, introduced in the 1960s, offer a smoother transition between vision zones but still require users to position their eyes correctly to see clearly. Both types can cause peripheral distortion and often require an adjustment period.

Niko Eiden, CEO of IXI, explained that the key advantage of their product lies in its dynamic lens design. “Modern varifocals have this narrow viewing channel because they’re mixing basically three different lenses,” Eiden stated. “With our glasses, you have the full lens area to see far.” This design eliminates the need for users to find the right spot within the lens for distance vision, significantly improving comfort and usability.

The autofocus glasses will offer a larger area for near vision, although it will not extend to the entire lens. Eiden noted that the reading area will be positioned optimally for the user based on their eye exam results. Most importantly, when the wearer does not need to focus on close objects, the reading area effectively disappears, allowing for an unobstructed view.

As IXI prepares for its launch, the company reports it has secured over $40 million in funding and employs around 75 staff. The glasses are expected to be available within the next year and will be priced at the higher end of the market, though specific figures have not yet been disclosed. “We will be in the really high end of existing eyewear,” Eiden remarked.

While the glasses promise significant advancements, they also come with certain limitations. Users will need to charge the glasses regularly, as they incorporate electronic components. Eiden mentioned that the charging port is discreetly located in the temple area, but daily charging will be necessary. Despite these features, the glasses maintain a similar weight and appearance to standard eyewear, with prototypes weighing approximately 22 grams (0.78 ounces).

Some visual distortions are anticipated, particularly at the edges of the lenses where the liquid crystal transitions occur. Eiden acknowledged that while there will be some distortion, the central viewing area remains sufficient for reading and other tasks. IXI is also conducting further tests to establish the glasses’ safety for driving. In the event of a malfunction, a failsafe mode will revert the lenses to standard distance vision.

The technology behind the glasses employs an array of photodiodes and LEDs that track the user’s eye movements. These components utilize infrared light to gauge what the wearer is focusing on, allowing for immediate adjustments. Although IXI is designing the glasses for daily use, details about optimal operating conditions have yet to be disclosed.

Professor Ian Murray from the University of Manchester commented on the concept, stating that while the autofocus glasses are a promising innovation, their practical applications may initially be limited. “It is all perfectly feasible from a physics viewpoint,” he noted, highlighting the need for further exploration into factors such as field of vision and performance in low-light conditions.

Other companies are also working on similar technologies. For instance, Japan’s Elcyo is developing adaptive lenses, while ViXion already sells autofocusing glasses that differ in appearance and functionality. IXI’s glasses will first launch in Europe after securing regulatory approval, with plans to seek FDA approval for the U.S. market and expand globally thereafter.

Eiden likened the arrival of autofocus glasses to the introduction of autofocus technology in cameras, emphasizing the need for innovation in the eyewear industry. “After varifocals, there has been basically nothing. That’s really what we want to change,” he concluded, suggesting that future generations may look back and marvel at the limitations of traditional eyewear.