Google on what to expect from Android XR transparent displays

Google Design has an interesting article this week about “Designing for Transparent Screens” and the work that went into Jetpack Compose Glimmer, Android XR’s design system for Display AI Glasses.

For those who haven’t used smart glasses with displays before, the first thing to know is that the “interface doesn’t actually appear on the surface of the lens itself.” Rather, it is “projected to a perceived depth of about one meter away.” Additionally, the display area is a square.

You can get an idea of what to expect by “placing your hand in front of you at arm’s length and focusing on your fingers.” As you do this, the “environment behind and around your hand goes out of focus,” as seen in the video below.

This was a really pivotal realization for our Android XR design team early on. It sounds like a small detail, but it means that to read any content, a user has to consciously shift their focus. They’re moving their…