My idea of a perfect cold activity is to stay INSIDE where it is warm, curl up on the couch and read a good book. If you are prefer a more extreme activities like alpine sking or snow boarding, you might like to check out the Recon-Zeal Transcend goggles. These are the world’s first googles with a built in GPS enabled head-mounted display that displays information such as speed, latitude/longitude, altitude, vertical distance travelled, total distance travelled, chrono/stopwatch mode, a run-counter, temperature and time. The goggles can be charged via USB and are available in two models with different lens options. The Transcend SPPX is fitted with an SPPX polarized and photochromic lens retailing at $499US, Transcend SPX features an SPX polarized lens and costs $399US.
The World’s First GPS Goggles with Head-Mounted Display Available Now
See More with this Season’s ‘Must-Have’ Alpine Goggles
The highly anticipated Recon-Zeal Transcend goggles are now available to order, Recon Instruments announced today.
The public can purchase these revolutionary GPS-enabled goggles from Recon Instruments’ fresh new website www.reconinstruments.com and be part of the exclusive group to own the world’s only goggles with real-time GPS data viewable through a head-mounted display system.
Recon Instruments’ initial 2010 limited release will ensure skiers and riders have a pair of Transcend goggles when the first snow hits the mountains this winter. There are two models of Transcend available with different lens options, Transcend SPPX is fitted with an SPPX polarized and photochromic lens retailing at $499US, Transcend SPX features an SPX polarized lens and costs $399US.
Transcend is the only pair of goggles in the world to provide real-time feedback to the user, including speed, latitude/longitude, altitude, vertical distance travelled, total distance travelled, chrono/stopwatch mode, a run-counter, temperature and time. It is also the only pair of goggles that boasts GPS capabilities, USB charging and data transfer, and post-processing software all with a user-friendly, futuristic interface.
Recon Instruments has even hinted at an open API app development and download community, with some featured free apps.
The optical system, designed by Recon Instruments, is embedded within a Zeal Optics’ frame design on a micro LCD display, which appears to hang approximately six feet in front of the user. Transcend also features ‘glove-friendly’ buttons to navigate the full-color dashboard and feature screens. The goggles also come with Recon HQ, a PC/Mac software application which allows users to track their day’s statistics and overlay their entire alpine experience on satellite imagery.
In addition, Recon HQ features a highlight editor to export the best parts of a session straight to Recon’s new website and HQ Online community. And with podium contests and giveaways awarded to the best highlights experienced at resorts around the globe skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling will never be the same again.
Darcy Hughes, Recon Instruments’ Chief Marketing Officer noted, “We have had great success with the development and partnership with Zeal Optics, and we’re excited for this initial limited release. Interest in the goggles has been unprecedented so it will be interesting to see how fast the release sells through at reconinstruments.com.”
“As action sports fanatics ourselves, we recognize the fun and importance of sharing the data collected by the goggles with friends, which is why we have incorporated the HQ Online community into our new website. We hope the public will have as much fun using our invigorated website as we have had in its development.” Hughes added.
The first major challenge Recon Instruments encountered was integrating the technology while maintaining the aesthetics of the goggles. A micro-computer processes the information collected by four different sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, temperature and pressure sensors which track the user’s position in their environment. In addition to the four sensors, a GPS chip is also incorporated into the package, all at a fraction of board architecture seen before. The processed data is projected onto a micro LCD display inside the goggles where a 3-dimensional lens then magnifies and projects a virtual image so it appears to be about six feet in front of the user.
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Yea I saw that before. I’m thinking of getting it when I hit the mountains.
Now i want to see it upgraded with a compass, a transparent oled display that is more up front, and some way to get AR data from online sources.
@tern.self.off – And I want it to call it Jarvis and hope those goggles come with a matching Iron Man suit….lol. This is 1st gen. I’m pretty sure they’ll put more functionality in the future.
Apparently from what I have read, there are hints of an Open API, so it should allow for new features/customisations to be added 🙂
I have a pair of Zeal’s polarized and photochromic goggles – great choice for the lenses – they’re awesome.
My only question pertains to peripheral vision. It looks like the battery and controls on each side might eat into the user’s peripheral vision, which would be a big minus for me.
good luck for any of you thinking youre going to get a pair of these if you weren’t on the waiting list… not only is this a limited edition google but its in demand… i’ve been on the pre-order list for over 10 months… October shippment alone is just for pre-orders. so if you werent one of the lucky few like me smart enough to save one of these months ago… youre probably not getting a pair… 🙁
The product does not work at all.
GPS is totally broken. When contacted, their support sents me a long belittling email, describing why the product may not work under certain conditions and how they are protected by their TOS. They refuse to refund a defective product.
I am going to dispute the $500+ transaction. Scammy companies like Recon should not be allowed to operate.