Always at the forefront of innovation when it comes to sports lenses, Bollé have once again broken new ground, launching the first ever augmented reality sunglass experience for smartphones.
A partnership between Bollé and tech visionaries, QReal and M7 Innovations, this new hyper-realistic try-out experience promises to change the way people try and buy sunglasses. It means that shoppers will be able to experience Bollé’s truly impressive flagship lens technology, the Phantom lens, without even having to touch a pair of glasses.
The Augmented Reality Sunglass experience is located within Instagram, where users are invited to try out Bollé’s Phantom lens through one of the brand’s iconic models – the Chronoshield. After seeing the glasses on their face, users simply flip their camera from selfie-view to front-facing and Phantom lenses are superimposed on their actual view. Users can then introduce sunglass effects like high contrast, anti-fog, and photochromic into their real surroundings to see the Phantom lenses in action. Finally, once you’ve selected a lens that suits your style and needs, you can search for a retailer that carries Bollé to get your perfect pair. Impressive eh?!
“AR is routinely used for try-on and certainly enhances the buying experience. But AR for try-out, this is a first,” said Louis Cisti, Vice President of Global Marketing for Bollé Brands. “In the new normal of retail, Bollé recognizes that safety is now the most important thing. Consumers demand shopping encounters that minimize physical interaction. However, when it comes to buying premium sunglasses, they still have high expectations and expect to see tangible benefits. Bollé’s AR try-out does all that heavy lifting. Shoppers get to see perceivable performance benefits before making a purchase.” Cisti continued.
Using AR, users will experience several unique Bollé lens features that demonstrate Phantom’s superiority for spring skiing, cycling, running and more:
- Light Adaptive Technology: the user is presented with a slider that allows them to change their exposure, making the scene brighter or darker. They watch Phantom’s molecular photochromic filter adapt to changes in ambient light.
- Platinum Anti-Fog Treatment: The user’s view begins to fog up, simulating the fogging that occurs from sweat while riding, hiking, or spring skiing. Fog condenses outside the glasses, but the view through the sunglasses remains crystal clear, mimicking the real-world performance Phantom Lenses in a perspiring situation.
- High Contrast: The scene outside the glasses remains natural, but the user is able to experience improved color and depth perception as they look through the Phantom lenses.
Uers will also be able to see how they look in the Bollé Chronoshield, a new take on an original style from the 1980s. The Chronoshield offers an extra wide field of view, ideal for visual comfort and protection against wind or debris. Venting ensures the lenses never fog up and the adjustable Thermogrip nose-pads and temple tips gives a custom fit while making sure they stay in place.
To try-out Phantom Lenses using this augmented reality experience, click here on your smartphone.
