https://www.wearabletechnologyinsights.com/tag/187/augmented-virtual-and-mixed-reality IDTechEx provides independent analysis on the development and application of RFID, Printed Electronics, Photovoltaics and Energy Harvesting en Copyright (C) IDTechEx Ltd Wearables can bridge the communication gap between the body and a computer. This article explores how devices can serve various purposes, from displaying real-time narration from actual speech, to generating readable, measurable signals translated directly from the body and understood within the medical space.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/real-time-narration-head-safety-and-biometrics-with-wearables/34650?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/real-time-narration-head-safety-and-biometrics-with-wearables/34650?rsst2id=187Wed, 22 Apr 2026 ZZZl.schuett@idtechex.com (Lily-Rose Schuett) 2026 is an exciting time for smart glasses, with several products expected to be launched from big tech players later this year, which will follow Meta's release of the Ray-Ban Display launched in September 2025. The optics required to give AI smart glasses augmented reality (AR) capabilities are called waveguides and are positioned within the eyepiece. There have been several key developments to waveguide technology which are enabling AR smart glasses which are lightweight, have longer battery life, and have a fashionable form factor. IDTechEx forecasts 35 million AR smart glasses to be sold annually by 2036.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/developments-in-srg-diffractive-waveguides-for-ai-glasses/34515?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/developments-in-srg-diffractive-waveguides-for-ai-glasses/34515?rsst2id=187Tue, 31 Mar 2026 ZZZt.bithell@idtechex.com (Thomas Bithell) IDTechEx analyst Thomas Bithell discusses the AR smart glass market and the optics used.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/video-35-million-ar-smart-glasses-in-2036/34491?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/video-35-million-ar-smart-glasses-in-2036/34491?rsst2id=187Tue, 24 Mar 2026 ZZZt.bithell@idtechex.com (Thomas Bithell) This article evaluates some of the strengths and weaknesses of reflective and diffractive waveguides used in augmented reality (AR) optics for smart glasses.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/evaluating-waveguide-technologies-for-ar-smart-glasses/34379?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/evaluating-waveguide-technologies-for-ar-smart-glasses/34379?rsst2id=187Thu, 12 Feb 2026 ZZZt.bithell@idtechex.com (Thomas Bithell) Missed out on CES this year? Or did you attend but miss the chance to explore the sensor innovations on display? In this article, IDTechEx Principal Technology Analyst Dr Tess Skyrme outlines three important trends for the sensor market evident from our trip to Las Vegas this year.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/three-key-trends-in-the-sensor-market-from-ces-2026/34320?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/three-key-trends-in-the-sensor-market-from-ces-2026/34320?rsst2id=187Thu, 05 Feb 2026 ZZZt.skyrme@idtechex.com (Dr Tess Skyrme) Enhancing the relationship between people's health and wellbeing and the global movement of digitalization with the use of wearables will allow for a wider understanding of health conditions or the optimization of communication. This article explores different device types and their use cases.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/digitalization-and-health-data-with-wearable-technology/34274?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/digitalization-and-health-data-with-wearable-technology/34274?rsst2id=187Tue, 20 Jan 2026 ZZZl.schuett@idtechex.com (Lily-Rose Schuett) This article describes the variety of optics required for XR (extended reality) devices. For AR glasses, this includes waveguides and other technologies such as birdbath combiners, whilst for VR headsets, solutions include pancake, Fresnel, and aspheric lenses. Across XR devices, different optics solutions are required based on the intended use case, with a variety of factors contributing to the suitability of an optics technology for a specific device. Factors include weight, optical efficiency, image quality, form factor, and cost.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/the-variety-of-optical-solutions-for-ai-glasses-and-vr-headsets/34273?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/the-variety-of-optical-solutions-for-ai-glasses-and-vr-headsets/34273?rsst2id=187Tue, 20 Jan 2026 ZZZt.bithell@idtechex.com (Thomas Bithell) Translating the body's signals into readable measurements or partaking in the enjoyment of gaming are ever-expanding possibilities with streamlined and accessible wearable devices. This article explores a wide range of wearables, including smart watches, glasses, mouthguards, glucose patches, VR headsets, and brain computer interfaces.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/watching-the-body-tick-making-calculated-moves-with-wearables/34063?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/watching-the-body-tick-making-calculated-moves-with-wearables/34063?rsst2id=187Mon, 24 Nov 2025 ZZZl.schuett@idtechex.com (Lily-Rose Schuett) Accessing health metrics during any hour of the day is becoming the new norm as wearable technology is gaining traction and becoming increasingly widespread. This article covers some of the most popular wearable types alongside some newer, emerging applications.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/watches-sensing-heartrate-and-glasses-as-display-screens/33922?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/watches-sensing-heartrate-and-glasses-as-display-screens/33922?rsst2id=187Thu, 23 Oct 2025 ZZZl.schuett@idtechex.com (Lily-Rose Schuett) Around the clock access to health metrics, made accessible by wearable devices for consumers, is revolutionizing fitness optimization and healthcare in a non-invasive way. This article covers different wearable devices, and the many types of sensors and their primary applications.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/the-trend-of-wearables-and-continuous-health-data-access/33810?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/the-trend-of-wearables-and-continuous-health-data-access/33810?rsst2id=187Thu, 25 Sep 2025 ZZZl.schuett@idtechex.com (Lily-Rose Schuett) Achieving continuity and efficiency with biometrics and health data can be achieved with wearables. This article explores some of the main devices in the wearables market today including smart watches, and others which are emerging, such as smart gumshields.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/comfortable-and-continuous-data-monitoring-with-wearables/33619?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/comfortable-and-continuous-data-monitoring-with-wearables/33619?rsst2id=187Fri, 08 Aug 2025 ZZZl.schuett@idtechex.com (Lily-Rose Schuett) IDTechEx, a trusted provider of independent market intelligence, have released a new market report, "Optical & Radio Frequency Metamaterials 2024-2034: Markets, Players, Technologies". The report forecasts the electromagnetic metamaterials market to approach US$15 Billion by 2034.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/new-global-optical-and-radio-frequency-metamaterials-market-report/31054?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/new-global-optical-and-radio-frequency-metamaterials-market-report/31054?rsst2id=187Mon, 13 May 2024 ZZZc.martin@idtechex.com (Charlotte Martin) On June 5th, Apple ended years of speculation and finally announced a mixed reality (MR) headset. The US$3499 Vision Pro headset confirmed some expectations and confounded others. IDTechEx has been tracking the mixed, augmented and virtual reality markets since 2015, with reports on headsets and accessories and optics available now and a report on displays for AR/VR soon to be released. This insight into the AR/VR industry and associated technologies provides context to IDTechEx's initial analysis of Apple's headset design philosophy.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/idtechex-explains-what-apples-vision-pro-headset-does-differently/29441?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/idtechex-explains-what-apples-vision-pro-headset-does-differently/29441?rsst2id=187Tue, 06 Jun 2023 ZZZs.dale@idtechex.com (Sam Dale) Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VR/AR/MR) devices promise to revolutionize the way we interact, acting as gateways to the metaverse. Despite these technologies already achieving limited adoption, extensive headset hardware development is required to meet the demands of becoming a ubiquitous computing platform.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/extended-reality-headset-sales-to-grow-to-us-20bn-2033-says-idtechex/27835?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/extended-reality-headset-sales-to-grow-to-us-20bn-2033-says-idtechex/27835?rsst2id=187Thu, 29 Sep 2022 ZZZs.dale@idtechex.com (Sam Dale) Before Google Glass first hit public testing in 2013, the word "glasshole" had already been coined. Referring to someone who uses an augmented reality (AR) headset inconsiderately, this term eloquently expresses the difficulty in achieving social acceptability.https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/how-can-hardware-help-ar-become-socially-acceptable/27624?rsst2id=187https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/how-can-hardware-help-ar-become-socially-acceptable/27624?rsst2id=187Wed, 07 Sep 2022 ZZZs.dale@idtechex.com (Sam Dale)