Oura Health Oy, the company behind the popular Oura Ring, is working on new smart glasses. The company has filed a patent for a multi-device system that integrates AR glasses with a smart ring. The device is said to show real-time biometric data directly in a user’s field of vision, potentially removing the need to check a smartphone app.
Biometric Data in Your Line of Sight
The patent describes a setup where a smart ring and AR glasses share sensor data in real time. According to the filing, the glasses use an AR engine to overlay health information, like heart rate, body temperature, and movement, onto the real world. Here are some of the key features of the proposed system:
- Real-time Overlays: Vital signs collected by the ring appear as visual metrics on the glasses’ lenses.
- Gesture Controls: Users could trigger actions, like taking a photo or surfacing a specific stat, by rotating the ring or making a fist.
- Security: The ring acts as a physical identity key; the glasses remain locked and inaccessible unless the ring is nearby.
Contextual Health Tracking
Unlike current wearables that track data in isolation, Oura’s patent focuses on “storytelling.” The glasses might pack cameras, microphones, and speakers to record the user’s environment when biometric changes occur.
For example, if a user’s heart rate spikes, the glasses could capture an image of the surroundings. This allows the system to correlate physiological stress with external triggers, like a high-pressure meeting or a specific meal, helping users understand the “why” behind their data.
The patent’s list of inventors also includes some former members of Meta’s AR teams. This indicates that the company is recruiting specialized talent to transition from biometric sensors to high-end optical hardware.
While the filing includes technical details for integrated lenses and display systems, it is important to note that a patent application does not guarantee a commercial product launch. So until we have some concrete confirmation from the company its better to take everything with a pinch of salt.
