ASUS is preparing an augmented reality (AR) product for launch sometime next year. CEO Jerry Shen revealed the plans yesterday, in an investor webcast, but declined to discuss further details, reports CNet.
Previously ASUS was noted to be in talks with Microsoft about building a cheaper version of the HoloLens AR headset. Microsoft's own augmented reality glasses, sold as a developer edition, will set early adopters back $3000. Hopefully a firm like ASUS could mass produce the same experience offered by HoloLens at a much reduced price.
During Wednesday's webcast ASUS Chairman Jerry Shen said "It should be next year when we come out with a product, we think AR (augmented reality) will be very important for people's lives."
It seems like ASUS favours the prospects of AR devices over VR ones. ASUS also partnered with Google which favoured AR, with its Google Glass product, over VR escapism. "You can make a real setting meld together with yourself and the AR (augmented reality) portion," said Shen, "Internally, we are talking about how to prepare." Another plan Shen revealed in the webcast was the development of a service robot, also aiming for next year.
PC enthusiasts all know ASUS products very well but just like many other PC stalwarts it has hopes to reduce its reliance on this industry. ASUS has been particularly successful in transforming to create popular tablets and smartphones. It reckons that it will have shipped more mobile products than PCs by the end of 2015.
