Snap Inc. unveils sunglasses with integrated video camera

Spectacles may not be something that people would wear on a daily basis but it certainly offers a new way of recording memories with your hands free and ready to engage.  Image Snap Inc./YouTube

Just recently Snapchat officially changed its company designation to Snap Inc. as it starts developing more products beyond Snapchat. And the first product to come out of the woodwork is a pair of sunglasses that records videos.

Called “Spectacles,” it is made to work seamlessly with the Snapchat app.

It is basically a pair of funky-looking sunglasses with an integrated video camera that can record 10-second videos or memories every time it’s activated. Spectacles then connects to an android device via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi where users can then upload the recording to their Snapchat accounts.

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It would not be surprising if the Spectacles’ function bring back memories of the now-defunct Google Glass because recording videos had been one of the latter’s advertised features. The difference with Spectacles, however, is that it has no AR function. The onboard camera also captures a wider perspective than most smartphone cameras. It sweeps a 115-degree arc that is similar to the human field of view, making the recorded output closer to the actual human perspective than what can be accomplished with a phone held up at face level.

If it wasn’t obvious yet, the hands-free nature of the Spectacles also offers a greater range of freedom for the one recording videos. Users need to simply tap a button near the hinge, and the device will start recording. The Spectacles cand record a day’s worth of Snaps on a single charge. How much footage exactly “a day’s worth” equates to would have to wait until Snap Inc. makes the device available on the market.

So far, no pricing information has yet been revealed, but as far as design options are concerned, Spectacles will be available in three colors: black, teal and coral.  Alfred Bayle