Recon Jet - Wearable Computer

July 2, 2013 Mikael Paulinow

So we live in Techy times, and cycling is really not being left outside of the technological advances. Just last week the new Recon Jet technical cycling sunglasses, or wearable computer as the Recon Instruments folks call it, were launched. So what is the Recon Jet and what is the price? What is the technology they rely on?

Recon Jet looks somewhat like a mixture of a pair of Oakley sunglasses and a pair of Google glasses. At the moment they're priced at $499. And the total weight is around 60 grams, so really not much. So here's how they look:

Recon Jet, the most advanced wearable computer

The Recon Jet works together with any ANT+ device, such as your Garmin device. Which again can be displayed on the lens. Sounds like straight from any Batman or James Bond.

How does it work? Check out the video on Vimeo:

Recon Jet is an activity specific heads-up display with a truly open platform that delivers information instantly, effortlessly and unobtrusively direct to the user's eye via a microcomputer and high-resolution widescreen display. Jet has a dual core processor, dedicated graphics, Wi-Fi, ANT+, Bluetooth, GPS, HD camera, and a comprehensive suite of sensors. All of this is mounted on a precision-engineered, fashionable pair of sunglasses on par with the best in the world. For more information, visit http://reconinstruments.com/jet/

George Hincapie is also involved, at least marketing-wise as he has been testing the product before launch. It seems to have convinced him

George Hincapie takes Recon Jet for a ride. http://jet.reconinstruments.com Recon Jet delivers information instantly, effortlessly and unobtrusively via a microcomputer and high-resolution widescreen Heads-up Display. All this is mounted on a precision-engineered, fashionable pair of sunglasses on par with the best in the world. George Hincapie is one of the most recognized riders in the world, with numerous world championships, national championships and professional victories to his credit. He rode in the Tour de France 17 times, won three US National Road Race championships, competed in a record 17 Ronde van Vlaanderen races and finished second at the gruelling Paris-Roubaix, the best ever for any American.

Want to win a pair of Recon Jet glasses? Read how to win here

The Technical Specifications:

ONBOARD SENSOR FRAMEWORK

9-Axis sensors
• 3D accelerometer
• 3D gyroscope
• 3D magnetometer

Pressure sensor
• Altimeter & barometer application

Ambient temperature sensor
Optical touch sensor for UI control
Works in all weather conditions, and with gloves on

PROCESSOR SUBSYSTEM

1 GHz Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A9

On-board memory

• 1GB DDR2 SDRAM

• 8GB flash

ULTRA-COMPACT DISPLAY

Wide screen 16:9 WQVGA display

Virtual image appears as 30" HD display at 7'

Power-saving sleep mode

High contrast and brightness for readability in high ambient lighting

NETWORKING SUBSYSTEM

Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11a/b/g/n)

Bluetooth 4.0 (Bluetooth Smart)

• Apple MFi Bluetooth support

GPS

• MEMS GPS/INS Kalman filtering fusion algorithm

ANT

• Support for connectivity of up to 8 ANT+ peripherals

Micro USB

• Device charging/power

• Data transfer

EMBEDDED AUDIO & VIDEO

• HD camera

• Integrated speaker and microphone

Read more about the Recon Jet and Recon Instruments:

http://jet.reconinstruments.com/

http://reconinstruments.com/

http://www.reconinstruments.com/about-us