Vuzix, the long-enduring company behind the Blade AR Smart Glasses, is continuing its slow-but-steady global expansion into Japan, where it has received certification for sale. Though growth has been modest, the company has demonstrated surprising resilience in a turbulent technology market long dogged by hype and misplaced expectations.
Vuzix has been around since 1997, making it the elder statesman of AR wearables, but 2019 is looking to be a benchmark year. After more than two decades suffering the roller coaster of market expectations in the smart glasses sector, the company is getting positive buzz following a strong showing of its new Blade Smart Glasses at CES 2019, where it won an Innovation Award. The new Blade, which actually looks like a regular (if beefy) pair of sunglasses, is getting high marks in tech media as the most practical AR glasses available for consumer and enterprise use.