UNISTELLAR, the company behind the Odyssey smart telescope, just launched a Kickstarter campaign for ENVISION, a set of smart binoculars. So, what makes binoculars “smart”?
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ENVISION Smart Binoculars
ENVISION are Porro binoculars with Nikon lenses that deliver a magnification power of x10 and a 50mm diameter. But the “smart” part is the integration of these high-quality optics with augmented reality (AR) features, to overlay contextual information directly onto the natural field of view at the user’s command.
The ENVISION smart binoculars have an earlybird pledge of $699. There are 3000 earlybird slots, after which the pledge price increases to $799. The Kickstarter campaign runs through Monday, July 29th 2024, and as of this writing has taken in over $945,000 in pledges. You can pledge for the ENVISION smart binoculars here.
ENVISION Features
ENVISION offers four distinct modes to enhance exploration:
- Smart Scouting Mode: Transform your field of view with a 3D map overlay, highlighting landmarks, water sources, trails, and points of interest during the day. At night, gaze upwards to see detailed contextual information about celestial objects within your view.
- Guided Navigation Mode: At night, the App suggests stars, comets, and other celestial objects to explore. During the day, visual cues guide you to sought-after points of interest, enhancing your navigation in complex and unfamiliar terrains.
- Shareable Target-Lock Mode: Lock onto any target—be it a camouflaged animal or a distant star—and pass the binoculars to friends. The binoculars will guide them precisely to the same target for a shared viewing experience.
- Classic Optical Mode: For those moments when you want to disconnect from technology, switch off the AR overlay to enjoy the pristine optics of a high-quality pair of classic binoculars.
ENVISION Specifications
- x10 magnification power
- 50mm diameter
- Porro architecture
- Battery life: 1,000 binocular engagements per charge, or five hours of continuous use.
- Field of view: 6°
- Exit pupil diameter: 5mm
- BAC4 Fully Multicoated glass
- Number of astronomical targets of interest: 1,000
- Number of stars: 200,000
- Number of terrestrial targets: more than 1 million hills, mountains, and peaks. Hundreds of thousands of trails, shelters, water springs, caves and more.
Why You Should Back ENVISION Smart Binoculars
ENVISION smart binoculars are designed for ease of use, and integrate with a smartphone via a dedicated app. They provide instant access to a comprehensive database of maps and contextual information, so users can explore the night sky like a seasoned astronomer and earthly landmarks like a professional guide.
This isn’t UNISTELLAR’s first Kickstarter campaign, either. Their eVscope smart telescope campaign raised over $2.2 million, and delivered to consumers and excellent reviews. UNISTELLAR’S smart telescopes have won multiple awards at CES, and UNISTELLAR has established partnerships with SETI Institute and NASA for unique citizen science programs.
So if the idea of observation of both terrestrial and extraterrestrial objects paired with AR technology sounds like a winning combination, then you may want to back ENVISION smart binoculars.
For more information or to make a pledge, head to the ENVISION Kiskstarter campaign page.
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