Lenovo did a wonderful job of making the Glasses T1 resemble a typical set of glasses. Aside from the USB-C cable jutting out from the side, I could hardly feel the difference between the T1 and a pair of thicker and lower-end sunglasses that you might get at the local drugstore.
It’s a remarkably tiny and portable design that Lenovo says was designed from scratch. They fit snuggly on my head, too. Even with an N95 mask on, the rubberized grips on the back kept the glasses in place on my ears, and they never once slid around on my face when I used them. Even though it may be a bit unattractive with the cable hanging out, the T1 folds flat for convenient storage. I wish Lenovo made that cable removable.
I can see why this detachable cable could not work in terms of longevity and long-term use. Having a USB-C connector on board the glasses could put them at risk of shattering, therefore a built-in cable helps prevent that.
Lenovo, meanwhile, did consider other crucial components of the design of the T1 eyewear. These aren’t your average pair of eyewear with a screen hidden at the bottom. Lenovo thoughtfully provides three additional nose bridge adapters to provide a snug and comfortable fit.
I have bad eyesight, and Lenovo thoughtfully included a space for a pair of glasses in case you share my predicament. You may take this to eyeglass makers and have them place your prescription lens into the insert, and then snap the lens into the display on the inside of the T1.
This helps in terms of wearability as putting these on top of an existing set of spectacles is pretty uncomfortable. Believe me, I attempted.
Sensors and Screen Technology
A number of sensors and advanced display technology are built into augmented reality and mixed reality headsets like the Lenovo Explorer and Microsoft’s HoloLens. The Lenovo ThinkReality A3 also had many cameras for hand tracking and other purposes.
But the T1 doesn’t have the advanced sensors of other head-up AR glasses. To keep costs down and make this more appealing to regular consumers, it’s been stripped down to the bare essentials.
Only gyroscopes are installed as sensors. And that’s on top of the speakers already built into the glasses temples. There are no built-in or external cameras, but there are controls on the side of the frame for adjusting the loudness and securing the projection’s direction so it follows you wherever you go.
