Spacetop: Revolutionizing Portable Computing with AR Glasses

The Future of Computing is Here 💻🕶️

In the ever-evolving world of technology, advancements like Spacetop are not just incremental but benchmark-setting. Spacetop is an experimental laptop-like product, debuting in October, that takes a refreshingly radical approach by eliminating the traditional screen and instead integrating AR glasses. I had the fortunate opportunity to experience Spacetop at an AR show in Long Beach (AWE), which focused on innovations in AR and VR. Here, Spacetop stood out as an enthralling gadget mixing novelty and practical utility.

Breaking Down Spacetop: What Exactly Is It? 🔍

Spacetop isn’t your everyday laptop; it’s a pioneer in creating a symbiotic relationship between traditional computing and augmented reality:

If you’ve been following tech forums, you might have heard of Apple’s Vision Pro, which offers a virtual screen when linked with a MacBook, or Meta’s Quest that offers something similar. However, Spacetop takes it a step further by serving as a dedicated computing base for AR glasses. The included XR AR2 Ultras from Xreal boast high-end features such as position tracking, making them some of the top-of-the-line AR glasses currently available.

The Hardware: Why Spacetop Stands Out 🛠️

The Spacetop hardware is akin to a Chromebook but meant for use with AR glasses. It generates an impressive 100-inch virtual screen that can neutrally float around you while providing multiple functionalities:

These functionalities make Spacetop practical for professionals working on articles or browsing online. Even though the AR glasses offer a narrow field of view, Spacetop incorporates head tracking, allowing the user to navigate different sections simply by tilting their head.

Experience: The Peripheral Vision Challenge 👀

AR glasses, even the avant-garde ones like the XR AR2 Ultras, still feel somewhat restrictive, as if you’re peering through a narrow window. They provide less immersion than a VR headset but manage to create an interface that demands attention on specific messages or tasks without shifting the display every time you move.

This narrowing peripheral vision leads to:

However, the magic of Spacetop lies in its head-tracking feature. You can move your head around, glance at different messages, and navigate without the display shifting with every slight movement. This true-to-motion experience makes Spacetop incredibly intuitive and futuristic.

Mobility and Flexibility: Always on the Go 🚀

One of the standout features is Spacetop’s ability to track the base in space. Whether you’re on a plane or moving around a room, Spacetop’s display adapts and moves with you.

This feature promises:

The keyboard is more than just an input device; it’s part of a comprehensive solution that makes the notion of portable, AR-based computing a plausible everyday experience.

Future Prospects: Redefining Portable Computing 🌟

What excites many is the possibility of AR glasses evolving to become an integral part of our digital paraphernalia—just like headphones. Imagine carrying not just a screen but an adaptable virtual workspace, regardless of the device you pair it with.

In the foreseeable future, we could have:

What Spacetop is engineering represents the nascent steps toward answering larger questions about portable AR computing. We might see setups that include high-efficiency keyboards with processors to interface directly with AR glasses, offering a truly flexible and immersive portable workspace.

Another Contender: XR’s Beam Pro 📱🕶️

While Spacetop showcased its potential, another product at the show captured attention: XR’s Beam Pro. This device is essentially a phone designed for AR glasses, stemming from the same premise that our current OS is not prepared for fully integrated AR/VR functionalities yet.

These devices collectively point towards:

The question remains: When will we have operating systems that natively cater to AR and VR devices? Spacetop, Beam Pro, and similar innovations are beginning to lay the framework for that evolution.

Step One: Pioneering a New Digital Experience 🥇

As we move into this new era, devices like Spacetop represent preliminary steps toward reimagining portable computing. Our current environment may not wholly support the technology yet, but the groundwork is being laid down. With time, AR glasses and related devices could transform our digital interactions, making tasks more immersive and adaptable.

Key takeaways include:

As technology advances, the unique appeal of AR-based computing solutions will likely become more mainstream. Spacetop is one such venture, showcasing an ingenious blend of traditional computing fused with the captivating world of augmented reality.

Conclusion: The Potential Unleashed 🚀

Spacetop isn’t just a product; it’s a glimpse into the future of computing. Armed with AR glasses and devoid of a physical screen, it brings a revolutionary approach to how we perceive and interact with computer interfaces. Although in its early stages and aimed at early adopters, the promise of Spacetop cannot be understated. It could be the herald of a new age where smart, processor-embedded keyboards and versatile VR/AR interfaces become mainstream, fundamentally transforming our workspaces and technology experiences.

So while products like Spacetop and XR’s Beam Pro are still steps one and two in a long journey, they signal a bright future where our devices won’t just accompany us—they’ll evolve and adapt with us, offering an endlessly flexible and immersive digital experience.