Ex-Hololens engineer launches AR headset that’s the antithesis of Apple Vision Pro – and forms remote assistance partnership with Manchester United shirt sponsor

By James On Jan 25, 2024

Former Microsoft HoloLens engineer Sebastian Beetschen has launched an augmented reality (AR) headset that stands in stark contrast to Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro. The headset, Almer Arc 2, is the latest product from AR startup Almer, co-founded by Beetschen and ex-fighter pilot Timon Binder in 2021.

Weighing just 138 grams, the Almer Arc 2 is four times lighter than Apple’s Vision Pro, which will come as welcome news as many of the people who have tried the latter headset so far have complained about its weight.

The Arc 2 features a 25 MP camera, beam-forming microphones, built-in speakers and a holographic see-through screen, and offers 8 hours of battery life. The transparent display can be used in dynamic environments, unlike the Vision Pro, which is designed for static indoor environments.

Remote support via TeamViewer

Almer’s announcement coincides with a strategic partnership with TeamViewer, the global leader in remote IT support and sponsor of Manchester United. This partnership aims to tap into the industrial market, allowing TeamViewer to provide remote support via the Arc 2 headset.

Percy Stocker, Senior VP Product Management AR at TeamViewer commented: “We are seeing widespread adoption of the product and immediately across the industry. Remote support via smartphones or tablets has limitations because employees’ hands are busy, information is not in their direct field of view, and the camera does not follow the employee’s point of view. As such, the move to AR provides TeamViewer with an opportunity to support this underserved market.”

The Almer Arc headset enables remote collaboration as if the parties were physically present. It expands the wearer’s environment with relevant information to point out objects in reality.

Sebastian Beetschen compared the Almer Arc to the visor of a fighter jet and said: “The Almer Arc is a lightweight, compact and easy-to-use AR headset. When a problem arises, the frontline worker takes the Almer Arc and contacts an external expert , which can see and hear what the employee is experiencing. The expert identifies the problem, highlights objects and displays documentation in the employee’s view, simulating a collaborative, personal experience.”

The global AR market is expected to grow from $62.75 billion in 2023 to $1.1 trillion in 2030, at a CAGR of 50.7%. Within this trend, the AR headset market is expected to reach $120 billion by 2026.

Beetschen concluded: “The cost-saving potential of using AR to service all installed machinery for the 10 largest machine tool manufacturers in DACH alone is £7.9 billion per year, so the opportunity is very real.”