Apple Smart Glasses: 'glassOS' Concept Shows What Fans Can Expect

By now, it's common knowledge that Apple is working on its head-mounted displays for augmented reality uses. Previous reports about patents, leaks and other things have been providing consumers with exciting details regarding these headsets and sleek smart glasses.

That said, Apple itself hasn't publicly announced anything with regards to AR headsets and AR glasses. It did show a lot of interest in AR and has even invested in a Taiwan-based plant that can create MicroLED displays for its devices – which likely includes an AR headset expected to be released in 2022 and a slimmer pair of AR glasses in 2023.

Now, a product designer named Jordan Singer has created concept images of what people can expect from Apple's AR head-mounted displays when they are released in the future. The concepts are based on clues in iOS 14 which, according to him, seems to be a good fit for smart glasses.

“I don’t usually like to speculate on what Apple is going to do next, but this time I found too many coincidental examples of new UI in iOS 14 that seems to be able to translate nicely to a pair of glasses,” he told Cult of Mac. “I’d like for this concept to give insight into how Apple is foreshadowing the future.”

Here's what fans could expect from Apple's future operating system for its upcoming AR glasses.

It might be named glassOS

Per Singer, he believes the many features Apple included in iOS 14 can be translated into a glasses format. The new UI that results from the new features, which will be discussed below, “most likely isn't random” and is “intentional.” He calls this “glassOS.”

It may make use of many new iOS features

Singer believes that iOS 14's new features, such as Compact Calls, Widgets, App Clips, and Picture in Picture (for FaceTime) will be adapted to glassOS. It can also show Privacy indicators, such as when the microphone or camera is used. It might even show Siri translations on the small display.

It might be used for common iOS apps and features

The designer believes the AR glasses will be able to display notifications like the Apple Watch, provide persistent, real-time navigation data from the Maps app; show iMessages on the screen; and even allow users to work with Siri.