Robert Downey Jr. has joined SPECS, Snap’s augmented reality glasses business, as its honorary chief customer experience officer, Snap announced. His job is to show people what the see-through glasses can do.
SPECS runs as Specs Inc., a wholly owned Snap subsidiary. Its glasses put digital content into the world around the wearer, controlled by hand and voice. Snap did not disclose the terms of the deal.
“Having tested practically every wearable tech that’s come to market in the last 20 years, and been largely unimpressed, I was absolutely sold on SPECS within 40 seconds,” said Downey Jr.
Episodes, Lenses and hardware
Downey Jr. will work across the SPECS organisation, Snap said. He will explore new capabilities, shape new Lens experiences and develop original content. Lenses are the AR apps that run on the glasses. He will also work on hardware and in-person experiences.
His first project launched with the announcement. It is a series of short episodes that put the glasses to the test, covering workspaces, golf, watching shows and learning artistic skills. The episodes are on the SPECS website and YouTube, and more will follow.
The partnership makes its broadcast debut during the New York Knicks v Philadelphia 76ers tip-off game. Another episode will air during Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, 23 October.
“It delivers on the promise of AR glasses made by a certain techno optimist superhero I portrayed,” said Downey Jr., who played Tony Stark in Marvel’s films.
Snap chief executive Evan Spiegel said Downey Jr. had been imagining what the technology could become for nearly 20 years.
“It’s an honor to work with him to bring that vision to life,” said Spiegel.
SPECS so far
Snap launched the glasses as a consumer product in June, priced at $2,195. In early October, an investor urged Snap to raise outside capital for SPECS. Snap’s second-quarter results, in August, showed its North American user numbers falling.
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