At the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) 2023, telecoms giant Reliance Jio showcased a new spatial computing device—Jio Glass—to audiences at the premier national event.
Not only does the company sell a host of electronic devices like laptops, smartphones, and broadband tools, but it has entered the extended reality (XR) market with its JioGlass head-mounted display (HMD).
Reliance’s JioGlass smart glasses offer a tonne of features in a 75-gramme metallic frame. It also leverages wireless connectivity and smartphone tethering to boost performance and connect to external power sources via a USB-C cable.
#JioGlass introduced in Indian Mobile Congress.
Convert your Smartphone’s 6-inch Screen into a 100-inch Screen,Plug your smartphone with these Jio Glass with the Help of Type C Port & enjoy 100-inch Virtual Display, prices around $160.#TechNews #IndianTech #WomenInTech… pic.twitter.com/VpRJ3nLpLO
— Ankita Singh (@AnkitaSinghNZ) October 29, 2023
Additionally, the device, which features a 1080p display, can display a massive 100-inch virtual display for streaming movies and other multimedia content. To control volume, screen brightness, and other features, users can leverage the devices trackpad controls functionality.
For clear, lifelike audio experiences, the JioGlass provides spatial audio speakers and a microphone for receiving and answering voice calls.
It can also switch between virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR) modes with detachable blinders on either side of the lenses, similarly to the Meta Quest Pro. After removing them, users can convert the device to view augmented reality content in their field of view (FoV).
Overall, the 4,000 mAh battery can last roughly three hours on one charge.
JioGlass Early Access ‘Awaiting Confirmation’ for Launch
Reliance Jio plans to launch consumer and enterprise versions of the device, but has not revealed information on how much or where the device will sell across globally. Despite the teaser at IMC 2023, few details remain on its launch.
According to the Tesseract website, the JioGlass Enterprise Edition will include a lightweight form factor, 100-inch full high-definition microLED 3D display, and Voice and Gaze interaction.
Tesseract is the startup that has developed the solutions ecosystem, later acquired by Reliance Jio.
Finally, the Tesseract website has unveiled its Early Access Programme on its platform, where those interested can register key data to sign up for the programme. The new offering will provide a prelaunch release of the smart glasses, an Enterprise XR App Suite, and a Development Kit for building applications on the platform.
Regarding its App Suite, the “turnkey solution” will offer developers “[three] tailored enterprise applications for enhanced operational productivity and efficiency.”
JioGlass: 360-Degree Tools for the Enterprise
Consisting of three specialised apps — XR Train, XR Learn, and XR Cockpit — Tesseract’s software offerings will lead developers with a novel immersive set of tools for the enterprise.
XR Train: Provides enterprises a platform for next-generational training tools via its AR Live Collaborative Training platform. With it, companies can leverage augmented reality to overlay digital content for “real-time collaboration among participants.”
This will allow teams to develop and innovate product designs, train new hires and continued learners, as well as other immersive procedures. Users can tap several tools like Virtual Connect, Multi-Connect, Share Board, Digital Library, Encrypted Meet, and AR Device Experience.
XR Learn: Offers users effective VR/AR immersive training with real-time 3D (RT3D) assets, outcome analyses, and personal trainee journeys.
On the platform, learners can benefit from nearly a boost in employee performance by 70 percent, a four-fold faster learning curve compared to traditional methods, a Unified Resource Hub, personalised training for individual schedules, study at any time and place with a time reduction of 40 percent, and seamless integrations, among others.
It also includes:
- Immersive 3D interactivity for lifelike 3D experiences
- User and Course Management for mobile device management functionality
- Software and Hardware learning ecosystem from JioGlass and JioDive
- Enhanced Content Engagement for full immersion in creative content
- No-code Custom Learning Journeys for creating learning paths convenient for individual learners
- Timed Learning Sessions and Performance Analytics
XR Cockpit: uses the platform’s Unified Device Control solution for seamless interactions between team members from any location, and at any time.
Device administrators can also govern their user base by assigning and directing user roles across devices. This includes app data access controls, 256-bit encryption, and user and device analytics.
XR Cockpit can also build a Centralised Knowledge Repository to access previous call recordings and multimedia assets from a single hub.
JioGlass Innovation History
The company behind JioGlass, Reliance Jio, acquired the JioGlass solution to back XR development across the Indian subcontinent and its global clients.
In a bid to boost Indian innovation, the Mumbai, Maharashtra-based firm has been working to develop ecosystem of hardware, software, and solutions amid the ongoing push to lead in XR technologies.
Along with its JioGlass AR smart glasses, the company launched JioDive, a fully-immersive multimedia streaming device for movies, entertainment, and viewing 360-degree content.
Most recently, Reliance Jio took to the India Mobile Congress 2023, which is the “largest telecom, media, and technology forum in Asia,” according to the website.
Entities such as the Indian Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), and others organised the event. Additionally, the event united leaders across industries, governments, academia, and more to discuss the next phases of development in XR.
HCLTech Collaboration with Meta, MeitY
The news comes just months after a major partnership between tech giants kicked off in India in July this year.
Indian tech firm HCLTech formed its XR Startup Programme in collaboration with Meta Platforms and the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Startup Hub.
Through the initiative, the company aimed to mobilise a national ecosystem of talented developers, engineers, and designers, and other professionals across the XR market. By developing competencies, technological testbeds, and collaboration with industry partners, the launch hopes to develop India’s role in the global emerging tech market.
This will involve multiple industry verticals like education, agricultural technologies, healthcare, and many more. By tapping HCLT and Meta’s engineering and innovations, the collective aims to step up efforts to develop India’s XR community.
Currently, HCLTech and HCLSoftware service over 222,000 clients across 60 national markets and feature cloud computing, software, and extended reality solutions.
The advanced technologies debuted its portable 5G enterprise network solution at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023. The Noida-based company demoed its portable 5G tools capable of hyper-fast, ultra low-latency networks to showcase XR use cases.
