Project: Popular - Universal lens for augmented reality eyewear

POPULAR sets out to develop the first generic Augmented Reality Eyewear (ARE) platform designed to accommodate a broad spectrum of users and application domains — from professional environments and everyday life to leisure and sports. The ARE solution will take the form of ordinary-looking glasses, offering all-day usability through visual, wearable, vestibular, and social comfort, including support for personal ophthalmic correction.

The project’s key technological innovations focus on miniaturization, discreet integration, superior optical performance, ultra-low power consumption, and extended battery life, all while keeping cost-efficiency in mind.

A dual approach will ensure that Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) considerations are embedded throughout the project. This includes a dynamic interplay between Human-Driven Design and multidisciplinary system engineering, guided by iterative prototype testing and user feedback.

POPULAR will develop all essential components of the ARE system, including:

• An ultra-low-power microdisplay with dedicated optics and electronics
• An innovative Holographic Lens Mirror
• Tailored application software
• Complete system integration into eyewear prototypes
• Real-world validation will be achieved through user testing in three representative use cases: outdoor sports, healthcare, and logistics.

The POPULAR consortium brings together a uniquely interdisciplinary team of 10 partners across 4 EU countries. It includes 4 research and technology organizations (RTOs) and academic institutions, 3 industrial companies (including 2 SMEs), and 3 end-user partners. An Advisory Board of stakeholders and ethics experts will accompany the project throughout its key phases, ensuring responsible innovation and alignment with societal needs.

By combining Europe's strengths in the eyewear industry with cutting-edge research and innovation, POPULAR aims to position European industry as a global leader in the emerging ARE market. The project will generate actionable guidelines for design, usability, market adoption, and societal impact, paving the way for broad deployment of ARE technologies in real-world settings.

POPULAR aims to develop the first generic Augmented Reality Eyewear (ARE) device that meets the needs of the widest range of users—whether in everyday life or professional environments. The device will deliver a seamless and comfortable AR experience, combining visual, wearable, vestibular, and social comfort in a discreet, lightweight form factor. Designed as ordinary-looking, made-to-order prescription glasses, the solution ensures long-term wearability without compromising aesthetics or usability.

Technical Objectives

• Microdisplay Innovation: Develop ultra-low-power (< 8 mW) and high-luminance (target: 10,000 cd/m²) full-colour RGB OLED microdisplays. These displays will be optimized for integration with the project's holographic lens mirror and manufactured using existing OLED deposition infrastructure on MOD’s production lines.

• Holographic Lens Mirror Development: Design and fabricate customizable holographic lens mirrors using advanced holographic materials. These lenses will be compatible with all types of corrective eyewear, including clear, tinted (sun/photochromic), myopic, hyperopic, and progressive lenses. The goal is to provide clear, contrast-rich virtual imagery, fully adapted to the user's visual acuity, without disrupting real-world vision or causing eye glow.

• System Integration: Integrate all components into a compact, energy-efficient eyewear system that achieves enhanced AR performance (≥ 1000 cd/m² RGB) and ultra-low power consumption (< 8 mW), while maintaining visual and physical comfort.

• User-Centered Innovation and Societal Impact: Promote broad societal acceptance and stimulate stakeholder engagement by reaching: Over 80% acceptance among potential users, including older adults and persons with disabilities and at least 90% user satisfaction across pilot deployments

• Validation and Demonstration: Demonstrate the scalability and short-term deployment potential of the developed ARE solutions at Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL5). Prototypes will be validated through user testing in realistic use cases, particularly in healthcare, logistics, and outdoor sports environments.