Amazon developing smart glasses to help drivers deliver packages faster – report

If new AR glasses work as intended, your Amazon deliveries might arrive a little faster.

A recent report from Reuters revealed Amazon is in the process of developing smart glasses for its drivers that not only show turn-by-turn navigation to get to a destination but also give directions inside buildings, such as where to walk off an elevator ride and show warnings about gates or aggressive dogs.  

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We don’t know any specifics, but reportedly the device — like Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses — would have a small embedded screen to show important information. They could also likely give audible directions, as Amazon’s existing Echo Frame glasses do, and use the built-in camera capability to take photos, replacing the handheld device currently in use. 

Realistically, these glasses might only save a few seconds per each routine delivery or a few minutes if a driver gets lost. But when the average driver handles around 300 packages a day, and with millions of packages delivered around the world each day, those seconds add up and mean drivers might be able to handle a few more each day. 

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While the project isn’t public yet, Reuters said several anonymous employees confirmed it exists. Those sources also warned that the glasses are likely still several years away and still might never see the light of day if they don’t work as intended or if employees don’t embrace them. Comfort is a concern, but when Kerry Wan, ZDNET senior reviews editor, tried out Meta’s latest wearable, he found the glasses comfortable enough to replace his prescription lenses. 

As evidenced by the recent expansion of Amazon’s drone delivery program — which can get packages to you in under an hour, the company has a renewed focus on shaving seconds off deliveries, especially in the last few miles.

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Smart glasses have struggled to find mainstream popularity, so it’ll be interesting to see if Amazon can make them work for its employees.