So what do you think? I’m leaning toward pretty horrible. And in fact, with all of the most promising 3D displays of the next year utilising active shutter, you’d think that some startup would have learned to make a sleek pair by now, only to be bought by one of the big television companies.

But really, it’s not that these glasses are too ridiculous to wear while chuckling to your comrades about it; the look just screams “novelty”, not “new standard”. [aving]

Indeed, not looking like Geordi is a good thing, but the Wrap 310 also features true 16×9 widescreen, twin high resolution displays, noise isolating earphones and compatibility with almost any video player—including the iPod and iPhone. Along those lines, Vuzix notes that the Wrap 310 is also upgradeable with an expansion port that can be used to accommodate changes in player design. Pricing and release information have not been announced.

Vuzix Launches Stylish Wrap™ 310 Widescreen Video Eyewear

Newly updated, sunglass-style form factor improves comfort and style while delivering
true 16 x 9 widescreen video

Experience the technology first hand at the 2009 ShowStoppers for the Digital Holidays
September 16th in New York and the 2009 Tokyo Games Show September 24th – 27th

Rochester, NY – September 15, 2009 – Vuzix Corporation, the leader in video eyewear for the consumer,
defense and low vision markets, is thrilled to launch the Wrap 310. The game-changing Wrap 310 challenges
the status quo of traditional video viewing devices by looking and feeling like normal sunglasses. The Wrap
310 will feature twin high-resolution video displays, project a 55-inch screen and include removable noise
isolating earphones. Powered for up to 6 hours on just 2 AA batteries, the Wrap 310 will accept video from
almost any video player, including the iPod and iPhone.

Whether you are an executive business traveler or want an immersive console gaming experience, the Wrap
310 will get the job done in style. With composite video input and optional VGA and component compatibility
adapters, the Wrap 310 is the most versatile pair of video eyewear on the market. Additionally, as the first
video eyewear designed for upgradeability, the Wrap 310 will feature an expansion port designed to provide
the product with near limitless compatibility. In addition to the soon to be available VGA and Component
adapters, Vuzix has plans for exciting accessories designed to keep the Wrap 310 on the cutting edge.

Please see a complete list of compatible devices below.

“The Wrap 310 is the first device to merge the look of video eyewear and traditional sunglasses into one,” said
Vuzix CEO, Paul Travers. “We are excited to be a part of the mobile video revolution and are thrilled to be
globally unveiling the Wrap 310 at Showstoppers for the Digital Holidays and the Tokyo Game Show,” added
Travers.

The Wrap 310 also features an improved on-screen user interface, included independent focus adjustments for
users with corrective lenses and still features compatibility with all major 3D video formats. Users now have
the option to select various lens colours to personalise their Wrap 310.

Compatible Devices Include:

• All iPod/iPhone models

• Portable DVD players
• Mobile phones with video output
• PCs and laptops*
• Televisions
• DVD/Blu-Ray players
• Portable media players

*Requires VGA output

[Vuzix]

The glasses implement a sensor that constantly tracks how often you blink. Go just five seconds without blinking your eyes and, BAM, eyeball electrocution the lens fogs over your right eye until you blink again.

But at $US150 when they hit this August in Japan, you might want to find a way to file the glasses to your insurance. [Impress Watch via DVICE]

The [CMOS] chip measuring 19.3 by 17 millimeters is fitted on the prototype eyeglasses behind the hinge on the temple. From the temple the image on the microdisplay is projected onto the retina of the user so that it appears to be viewed from a distance of about one meter. The image has to outshine the ambient light to ensure that it can be seen clearly against changing and highly contrasting backgrounds. For this reason the research scientists use OLEDs, organic light-emitting diodes, to produce microdisplays of particularly high luminance.

Wearers could scroll through menus, shift elements and pull up new info by simply focusing on a particular area or moving their eyes in a specific way. The researchers envision this technology proving useful for doctors and engineers somewhere down the line, but you and I both know that if and when something like this becomes readily available, there will be millions of hipster Geordi La Forges out there inundating the world’s coffee shops and Apple Stores. [Fraunhofer via Fast Company]

Apparently, air pressure and water pressure ensure that a consistent amount of fluid from the tank runs into the glass as the user drinks. I can see how that might work, but it doesn’t take a genius to realise that a glass vessel like this one would probably snap at the stem like a twig when tilted only slightly (a serious challenge for the tipsy drunk). My suggestion is to drink straight out of the bottle or, if you are a more civilized alcoholic, buy one of those giant glasses that can hold an entire bottle of wine. Not surprisingly, the Glass Tank is only a concept. [Kyouei via Trends Now via DVICE]

Twenty LEDs illuminate this wine glass light bulb. But for $US120, the money may be better spent on a nice vintage…or maybe like a lifetime supply of Miller High Life. [Nerd Approved]

Starting this spring, hipster-fashion-tape-design-company Azumi & David will sell you sunglasses tape. We’d like to believe that the sticky ribbon is merely intended to spruce up a shirt or a bag, you know, with the treasured facade of casually dangling glasses. We’d like to believe that.

But you know what? At minimum, two poor Azumi & David models are penciling in their eye expressions as we speak. [trend de la creme via geekologie]

From Dior, the Blow glasses are a fluorescently fugly take on the future of fashion, debuting in a limited batch of 500 this April. No, they don’t contain any special video hud or miniature computer, but no one else needs to know that as you threaten to retaliate to their name calling with mechanically-focused psionic blasts. [Viewon via StyleCrave]

People walking around with headphones and MP3 players/cellphones already aurally isolate themselves from their surroundings, but if personal viewing glasses like the Myvu take off and get really immersive, will we find visual-tainment junkies in rooms like this? [Deviantart]

And these USB glasses celebrate the most famous of fashionable geek icons, the horned rim, by storing 2GB of data in their 2mm frame that doubles as a bookmark. (Sadly, they don’t actually work as glasses.) Pick up your pair in March when the they’ll be available for $US29.

Just keep in mind that if you begin wearing things like short sleeve shirts with ties in any way above the perfect equilibrium of self-deprecating irony, you’re in danger of going too nerd. And if you ever go too nerd, even for the briefest of moments, you can never go cool nerd again. It’s the way it’s always been and always shall be. [imm living via Engadget]