So it seems there is a new competitor. Norm Glasses by Human Capable IncI
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1082773153/norm-glasses/description
They are definitely competitively priced and are very.. Very similar functionality wise compared to Shima. Although as most kickstarter projects, the shipping date of January 2020 is pretty optimistic, however they seem to have their tech figured out and for quite some time. They also have some videos of what the user sees through the display of their prototype, although they are not really showing the actual prototype they are using for it. Could be interesting to see how this unfolds. Perhaps this will encourage Laforge to realease some more functionality content? Hopeful thinking. I still think laforge will have the better product in the end, especially with the dual display eventually. Also this is yet another kickstarter project, so take everything with a grain of salt. That being said, it's a little discouraging to see other companies make such bold claims with earlier shipping dates and cheaper pricing. Don't let us down Laforge
They have continued to update their Kickstarter and Indiegogo sites monthly (which is a really cool thing that maybe LaForge should consider?).
I'm still not holding my breath, but their claim forward movement.
They were supposed to start shipping around now but it looks like it's been pushed back to April 2020.
Still not convinced that these aren't vaporware.
The only actual competition I see Laforge having is Focals by North. Nobody else.
I was able to dig into these a little further and ask some questions. Apparently there is a prism coming from the top of the frame and all the projection and display is handled within it, similar to Google glass. Hence why you can get prescription lenses installed on your own.
While they say the prisim is not in your line of sight, this does however, end up being a visible prisim to onlookers if you have clear lenses. So this means that people you are looking at will see the prism protruding from the top of the frame. This also brings into question how the user sees the projected image. Do they have to look up to see anything each time?
Not sure how I feel about this, I feel as though the "chip" in Laforge optics will blend in with your eye and be much less noticeable then a prism protruding from the top of your glasses. Also with the chip being in your line of sight, I'd like to think you'd see the images without altering your natural gaze.
This product does not look convincing. I agree with all of Dan's points: The deadline sounds optimistic to say the least, the lousy grammar indicates not a lot of effort was put into was is essentially the main presentation of their product, and most importantly they have not shown how the projection actually works. Overall I'm very doubtful about the validity of the product...
Just noticed that they can't seem to decide between the Wayfarer-clones they're presenting, or offering glasses with nose pads (FAQ #4). A bit late in the process to be changing the design radically!
The shipping date seems optimistic, as you say. I'm a little dubious about the battery life given their claims as well, unless the shipped devices will be much bulkier.
The "Our Journey" section is riddled with grammatical errors, but I'm happy to overlook that with an international team.
I am at a loss to determine how the display works, especially given that they offer the option of allowing you to take the frames to your local LensCrafters to get prescription lenses. That's a far cry from LaForge embedded the display in the lens or North needing a 3D scan of your head in order to perfectly align a holographic foil on the lens onto which to project. There is no projector evident in any of their pictures, and the pics of abandoned displays did not enlighten me. All of their model pictures have tinted lenses, so I'm a little concerned that there's actually just a tiny screen behind one lens and that the clear lenses will make it obvious. Perhaps Corey, having been immersed in optics for so long, can make better sense of it.
Very interesting, and something to watch, but I need a lot more details before pledging.