Formerly known as Thalmic Labs, North has recently rebranded with the goal of offering affordable connected glasses at brick-and-mortar locations. Launching with its new Focals glasses, North hopes to capture the same success seen in Warby Parker but with a focus on tech-infused glasses. The Focals currently serve as the flagship glasses for North and are modeled after a pair of thick-rimmed, black hipster-esque glasses.
Each pair of Focals features a tiny, color laser in the right arm. This laser displays information from a smartphone to a user and connects via Bluetooth. The laser bounces off a piece of polymer creating a 15-degree viewing area that’s about 300 x 300 pixels. While the Focals are affordable connected glasses, the wearables still manage to impress users and functions as intricate utility machines.
Affordable Connected Glasses
North Hopes to Be the Warby Parker of Smart Glasses
Trend Themes
1. Affordable Connected Glasses - There is an opportunity for businesses to offer affordable tech-infused glasses like North's Focals that serve as intricate utility machines while still being fashionable and accessible.
2. Brick-and-mortar Retail of Smart Glasses - The success of Warby Parker proves that there is an opportunity for North and other companies to offer smart glasses in brick-and-mortar locations, making them more accessible to consumers.
3. Disrupting Traditional Eyewear Industry - The innovation of smart glasses by companies like North has the potential to disrupt the traditional eyewear industry, making glasses not just a medical necessity, but a lifestyle accessory.
Industry Implications
1. Eyewear Industry - Companies in the eyewear industry need to keep up with technological advancements and offer more tech-infused products to stay competitive and cater to changing consumer demands.
2. Retail Industry - The success of Warby Parker and North's brick-and-mortar approach to selling innovative glasses suggests there is an opportunity for disruptors in the retail industry to offer more cutting-edge, accessible products.
3. Technology Industry - The emergence of affordable connected glasses like North's Focals highlights the potential innovation opportunities in the technology industry, particularly in wearables and smart devices.