2025: The Year We Stop Staring at Our Phones and Wrists 

The Dawn of Heads-Up Technologies and the Revolution of Augmented Reality 

As we stand on the precipice of 2025, we are witnessing what is arguably the most transformative shift in personal technology since the advent of the smartphone. The year 2025, it seems, is set to be remembered as the time when we finally stopped staring at our phones and wrists, thanks to the rapid adoption of heads-up technologies, extended reality (XR), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and spatial computing. Major players in the tech industry—Apple with their Vision Pro and Vision OS, Microsoft with their HoloLens 2, Lenovo with Think Reality, Google Glass Enterprise 2, Even Realities, Ray-Ban, Blucap, Epson, Xreal, Meta, Viture, Magic Leap, HTC Vive, Avantis, RealWear, and Zebra and more —are leading this revolutionary wave. 

Understanding Heads-Up Technologies 

Heads-up technologies, encompassing AR, VR, and spatial computing, represent a paradigm shift in how we interact with digital information. Unlike the flat screens of phones and watches, these technologies overlay digital information directly onto our line of sight. This fundamental change enhances our interaction with both digital and physical worlds, creating a seamless blend of reality and virtuality. 

The Cognitive Shift 

One of the most profound aspects of heads-up technologies is how they align with the way our brains naturally process information. Traditionally, accessing digital information meant diverting our gaze to a phone or smartwatch screen. This shift in focus requires cognitive effort and interrupts our engagement with the physical world. With heads-up displays, information is presented in our direct line of sight, meaning our brains can process it more fluidly and efficiently. 

The brain's visual processing centres are remarkably adept at integrating information from our direct line of sight. This capability stems from millennia of evolution, where survival often depended on rapidly interpreting environmental visual cues (e.g. am I about to be attacked!) By leveraging this natural ability, heads-up technologies can present information in a way that's inherently intuitive; reducing cognitive load and enhancing situational awareness. 

The Role of Battery and Edge AI Technology 

A critical enabler of this transition is battery and edge AI technology advancements. Historically, one of the significant barriers to heads-up and AR technologies has been the limited battery life and processing power of portable devices. However, continued development in battery technologies and the increased computing capability in mobile devices have revolutionised the landscape. 

New battery technologies have dramatically increased energy density, allowing longer usage without compromising the form factor. This means devices can be lighter and more comfortable to wear, an essential factor for user adoption. 

Simultaneously, the rise of edge AI—where processing is done locally on a device rather than relying on cloud servers—has been a game-changer. Advances in AI algorithms and specialised hardware have made it possible to process and render AR content in real-time on a portable device linked to your wearable display or with the Vision Pro, on the device itself. This reduces latency, enhances privacy, and improves the overall user experience. 

Industry Leaders and Innovations 

Several industry giants are at the forefront of this revolution, each bringing unique innovations to the table. 

• Apple: Known for its trailblazing products, Apple recently brought the Vision Pro to market, which integrates seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem, offering a new dimension to user interaction. 

• Microsoft HoloLens 2: With the HoloLens, Microsoft continues to push the boundaries of mixed reality, particularly in enterprise applications, from remote assistance to complex visualisation tasks. 

• Lenovo and Think Reality: These companies are focusing on practical applications of AR in industry and education, making advanced technical training and remote support more accessible. 

• Google Glass Enterprise 2: Google has refined its Glass product for enterprise use, enhancing productivity and safety in various fields, including healthcare and manufacturing. 

• Ray-Ban and Blucap: These companies are pioneering stylish AR wearables, merging fashion with cutting-edge technology, and the former is raising awareness with a high level of out-of-home marketing. 

• Meta and Xreal: Meta (formerly Facebook) and Xreal are exploring expansive virtual environments, facilitating new forms of social interaction, work, and entertainment. 

• Magic Leap: Magic Leap continues to innovate with its focus on spatial computing, aiming to transform how we interact with digital content in our physical spaces. 

• HTC Vive: A longtime leader in VR; HTC Vive is expanding into AR and XR, focusing on immersive experiences for both consumers and enterprises. 

All of these manufacturers have a different focus area, segment and concept, but by having this diversity of offerings, we can be assured there is a product that fits your use case! 

The Future of Interaction 

As these technologies become mainstream, we can anticipate a profound shift in how we interact with the world around us. Integrating AR into everyday activities will enhance various aspects of life, from education and healthcare to entertainment and navigation. 

Education and Training 

In the realm of education, AR can transform traditional learning methods. Imagine students donning lightweight AR glasses to see historical events unfold around them or medical students practising surgery in a highly realistic virtual environment. This immersive learning experience can deepen understanding and retention, making education more engaging and effective. This is rooted in the well-established principle that we retain far more information when actively engaging with the material. Traditional reading engages us on a cognitive level, but when we add visual, auditory, and tactile experiences, the depth of understanding and retention increases dramatically. In essence, AR transforms passive learning into an active, multi-sensory experience, which can significantly enhance our ability to remember and apply what we have learned. 

Healthcare 

In healthcare, AR can assist surgeons with real-time, 3D overlays of patient anatomy, improving precision and outcomes in complex procedures. It can also support remote medical consultations, allowing specialists to guide local practitioners through intricate operations. I have seen use cases where paediatric care is revolutionised; operations previously requiring a general anaesthetic can now be carried out using a local as the patient, a child, is in a virtual world of their choosing, removing the stress and allowing a faster and less complex operation to take place; also releasing the patient from hospital more sooner, with a resulting shorter recovery cycle. 

Entertainment and Social Interaction 

Entertainment and social interaction will also see a revolution. Virtual concerts and events, enhanced by AR, can offer unprecedented levels of immersion, allowing audiences to feel as if they are part of the performance. Social platforms will evolve, providing richer and more interactive ways to connect across distances. One of the topics that led to this article being written was a product I witnessed while watching Reuters news this morning. Products such as IrisVisioneSight4, SightPlus and Oxsight glasses are already available to bring improved sight to those who need it. 

Navigation and Daily Life 

Navigational aids will become far more intuitive. Instead of glancing down at a map on your phone, directions will appear seamlessly in your field of vision, guiding you turn by turn. Daily tasks, from cooking to DIY projects, can be enriched with step-by-step AR instructions, making complex tasks more manageable and accessible. 

Wearable Devices Without Screens 

The landscape of wearable technology is rapidly expanding to include devices that do not feature traditional screens, such as smart rings and implanted chips. These innovations offer discreet, yet powerful, ways to interact with digital information. Smart rings, for example, can monitor health metrics like heart rate and sleep patterns while providing haptic feedback for notifications. Implanted chips, on the other hand, can store personal information and offer quick, secure access to various systems, from building entry to payment systems. 

The appeal of these screenless wearables lies in their ability to integrate seamlessly into daily life without the bulk and distraction of a display. They represent a movement towards more subtle and unobtrusive forms of technology that prioritise user experience and convenience and move us slowly away from the screen-prodders we have become. As these devices become more sophisticated, they will play a crucial role in the ecosystem of connected devices, offering new possibilities for interaction and functionality. 

Conclusion 

The year 2025 heralds a new era where the pervasive need to stare at our phones and wrists will become a relic of the past. As heads-up technologies, extended reality, and spatial computing take centre stage, guided by advances in battery and edge AI technology, we are on the brink of a future where digital information is seamlessly integrated into our everyday lives. This shift aligns with our brain's natural processing capabilities and promises to enhance productivity, creativity, and connectivity in previously unimaginable ways. 

The trailblazers—Apple, Microsoft, Lenovo, Google, and others—are not just introducing new gadgets but redefining the human-computer interaction framework. As we stand on the cusp of this revolution, the possibilities are endless, and the future looks exceedingly bright, forgive the pun! 

My Opinion 

I firmly believe that 2025 will see initially a renewed focus on Heads-Up Displays (HUD). Having used a Bluecap device for a year, I can attest to its usefulness in seamlessly integrating digital information into my daily activities. This experience has been transformative, offering a glimpse into the future of unobtrusive yet powerful and empowering technology. 

Working with a select set of application developers who can operate across multiple products, CDW is poised to assist customers in embracing and managing these advanced devices and their enabling software. However, it is imperative to recognize the caveats and cautions that come with wearing these devices, particularly those with discreet outward-facing cameras. Privacy concerns, social implications, and the potential for misuse are issues that need addressing to ensure these innovations are adopted responsibly and ethically. 

Don’t get me wrong, cultural acceptance of this level of wearable technology alongside the use case will be the limiting factors initially, but this could transform the way in which we engage with technology, our environment and people as it evolves.