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SOC15: Hands on with the Recon Jet Smart Glasses

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Recon jet smart glasses sea otter hud heads up display (1)

The future is a confusing place. Cars are still on the ground, I have to pour my own coffee in the morning, and a complete meal still isn’t able to fit inside a tiny pill. However, one bit of futuristic cycling technology is finally here. No, we’re not talking about the latest axle standard for the next generation of tires, but a cycling HUD.

Technicaly, you could view Google Glass or Recon’s own goggles as the first Heads Up Displays available to the cyclist, but the Recon Jet has been designed from the ground up for your athletic pursuits, no goggles required.

Packing an incredible amount of functions into a sleek but somehow awkward looking package, Recon is finally shipping their long awaited Jet smart glasses. The company is still in the process of fulfilling their preorders, but Jets will soon be available for sale if you can see past the price…

Recon jet smart glasses sea otter hud heads up display (8)

Recon jet smart glasses sea otter hud heads up display (10) Recon jet smart glasses sea otter hud heads up display (9)

Just what is a heads up display and why would you want it for cycling? Basically, it puts all of the information you could possibly want to see while riding in a position where you can see it without really taking your eyes off the road. I honestly expected it to be much more obtrusive to your vision than it actually is, but your brain seems to compensate for the blocked portion of view. You definitely know it’s there, but at the same time you can still see what’s behind the screen thanks to your left eye compensating.

The device pairs with your smartphone to operate various apps, but you can also use the glasses as a standalone unit since it has built in GPS and Wifi. When it is connected to your phone you can receive text and phone call notifications among other things, and in both modes you can see maps, cycling metrics, and much more. Thanks to the open platform anyone can develop apps that are compatible and features like a built in mic and stereo speakers allow for the development of sound based features in the future. To utilize all of the features you will need a Recon Engage account which is a free app that is both Mac and Windows compatible and works with Android or iOS.

Recon jet smart glasses sea otter hud heads up display (3)

Recon jet smart glasses sea otter hud heads up display (5) Recon jet smart glasses sea otter hud heads up display (6)

The glasses themselves break down to allow for different lenses and the glasses can even be used without the electronics if you wanted to. The battery is mounted to the left side of the temple with the optical display on the right for balance. A typical charge will last up to 4 hours of use so longer activities will need a second battery which is hot-swappable so you won’t lose your data. A glance-detection feature turns on the screen when you look at it which helps to save battery life, and a full charge takes about 2.5 hours via micro USB.

On the side of the device is an optical button which functions similar to the controls of Google Glass with finger swipes left and right or up and down moving through the menus. The optical button works in all weather and with all gloves. Additionally there is a rocker button below and a separate power button. Even with all of the electronics dangling from the frame, the glasses only weigh 85g all in.

Recon jet smart glasses sea otter hud heads up display (7) Recon jet smart glasses sea otter hud heads up display (4)

The Display includes a 15 degree adjustment so you can position it to your preference. Currently made in San Jose by Flextronics, the glasses are available in white or black and along with replaceable lenses, RX lenses are a possiblity. Recon is currently fulfilling the back orders for the glasses, but when production units are available they will sell for $699.

Admittedly, we were pretty skeptical of the Jet, but in a quick test at Sea Otter it showed promise. They are considerably less awkward than expected, and do offer some useful features like being able to follow a map for your route, or take photos of that car that just forced you into a ditch. We’ll have to get out on a ride to really test them out, but for now they remain a curious bit of tech that may point towards the future of cycling data instruments.

reconinstruments.com

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37 Comments
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b
b
9 years ago

oh god…. First.

PROEDGEBIKER.COM
9 years ago

Do they come in polarized?

Ilikeicedtea
Ilikeicedtea
9 years ago

I would get so much tail if I had a pair of those.

Biff
Biff
9 years ago

I think I saw Geordi La Forge wearing a set of these at Paris Roubaix

BEERandSPOKES
9 years ago

CAN THE INMATES PLEASE STOP RUNNING THE ASYLUM!!!

Tail
Tail
9 years ago

They’re amazing.Any guy wearing these would be sooooo hot!

Harry
Harry
9 years ago

So…er….they like what…they like keep the sun outta yer eyes or summin’?

Myke
Myke
9 years ago

Someone is sure to post how much they love these… I give it years!

Mike
Mike
9 years ago

Thats it, top of the wearables market. I can hear the bell. These combined with the clothing business I got asked to see this week that has the sensors embedded in the jersey, but has problems with washing instructions.

Are we insane? People can’t even operate QR skewers. Are they really up to the requirements of this tech? I am banning these from my bunch rides.

Jack
Jack
9 years ago

Will these speed up my search for John Connor?

BEERandSPOKES
9 years ago

“These are not the trails you are looking for”, said Luke to the android Bishop. Wait are we still doing phrasing? My Bad!

John
John
9 years ago

@Biff & @ Jack: You guys tie for winning the internet today! LOL!

quickgeezer
quickgeezer
9 years ago

Just stopped by to post “Resistance is futile,” but I’m way outclassed!

mudrock
mudrock
9 years ago

Riding solo with these might be ok but I wouldn’t want to be riding in a bunch with someone ahead of me wearing it. A paceline takes enough concentration as it is.

t-wrecks
t-wrecks
9 years ago

What does the scouter say about my power output?

mateo
mateo
9 years ago

get yourself an electric bike and you can surf the web while you exercise. wait oh yeah this is stupid

Kyle
Kyle
9 years ago

Are these any worse than everyone in a group ride staring at their Garmin?

reverend dick
reverend dick
9 years ago

(deleted)

Jeff
Jeff
9 years ago

April fools was 3 weeks ago lol

velotronix
velotronix
9 years ago

HE DOESNT KNOW HOW TO USE THE THREE SEASHELLS!

joby
joby
9 years ago

(deleted)

joby
joby
9 years ago

(deleted)

Mike A
Mike A
9 years ago

Wow, someone just made Google glasses look cool, that’s amazing.

fap master flex
fap master flex
9 years ago

Do you remember when bikes weren’t about data acquisition and looking like a total dipsh*t?

Me either.

These are the best. I will take two.

flyingburito
flyingburito
9 years ago

These are strictly for enduro use only.

internet stoke
internet stoke
9 years ago

(deleted)

larsv
larsv
9 years ago

“Biff – 04/23/15 – 6:27pm
I think I saw Geordi La Forge wearing a set of these at Paris Roubaix”

Whahahaha, you win 😀

Antipodean_G
9 years ago

………!

Young Jedi
Young Jedi
9 years ago

Do they sync via bluetooth to my moon boots & power meter socks? B/c these would rock while riding my bike on my anti-gravity resistant trainer? I don’t know if the future is even ready for this….

Hairy
Hairy
9 years ago

Say goodbye to peripheral vision with a frame that chunky!

anonymoose
anonymoose
9 years ago

I feel like I’m the only one here stoked about this.

colorblind
colorblind
9 years ago

Hair ya doin guy?

Kovas
Kovas
9 years ago

According to the video on their website, looking at a watch (you know, the old-school one on your wrist), takes you “out of the moment”. … OH LORD! HOW MANY MOMENTS HAVE I MISSED WITHOUT THESE GOGGLES!

STS
STS
9 years ago

@Young Jedi- Thank you so much. Can’t stop laughing because of your comment. Made my day.

Jeff
Jeff
9 years ago

I really can’t wait for white rimmed glasses to go back in to our cultural time capsule for another 20 years. Something about the white rimmed glass makes people look…cocky? I could think of other words, but my post would get deleted.

Ascar Larkinyar
Ascar Larkinyar
9 years ago

battery life is what? 2 hours?

and praise to the rev(church of the big ring guy)…..

Shawn
9 years ago

@Mike (4/23) How true is that comment that people can’t even learn to use QR levers correctly and they are even LABELED “OPEN” / “CLOSED”. With traffic, crappy road conditions, I find it amazing that states are outlawing texting and holding a phone yet we can give you glasses to be yet another distraction because you know not just cyclists will use these but drivers of vehicles too.

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