Imagine walking into a shop that sells eyeglasses, sitting down in front of a camera and having your picture taken. Then you just sit in front of a computer terminal and scroll through different eyeglass frames and styles, having them instantly applied to your digital picture. This way you can effectively get an idea of how the glasses will look on you without finding the physical frames and putting them on your face.

Even if you only used this technology to whittle the selections down to a handful of frames that you'll try on physically, you've saved plenty of time, and will more easily find the coolest frames.

POSSIBLE TECHNICAL DIFFUCULTIES:

Making sure the software effectively identifies the points where the glasses will rest doesn't have a simple solution, but if AI can't solve that, then a minimally trained store employee could mark off the resting points, or the subject could wear a default pair of glasses from which the software could determine facial resting points. There are other options too, now that I think about it.

Keeping a database of images of every frame constantly updated may pose some technical obstacles. Ultimately, the manufacturer would generate the appropriate images and make them available for download by the retailers.

RELATED POINTS:

- This would make buying glasses on the web an attractive option

- More advanced applications could include 3D models of your ugly head that you can rotate to see how the glasses look on you from different angles.

- You can try on glasses that aren't in stock.

- Computerized suggestions based on the shape of your head and other features?
-- kurleykyew, Oct 16 2003

I think some opticians and online suppliers of glasses do this
-- hippo, Oct 15 2023


[hippo] perhaps you need to check your prescription. You seem to be struggling to read 4-digit numbers.
-- pocmloc, Oct 15 2023


[-] mean anno
-- Voice, Oct 16 2023


Bong.

That's the sound of the bell that is rung when a half- baked idea has become fully baked.

A small shower of faded confetti is launched in honour of [kurleykew], whoever they are, and wherever they've got to.

[+]
-- pertinax, Oct 16 2023


One of the problems with the way this has developed is the virtual try-on apps that some optical providers have.

You can see your face real-time and "try on" other frames, but it requires you to remove your current glasses, which, if you are sufficiently visually impaired, makes it so you can't see the screen of your device, negating the whole purpose.
-- tatterdemalion, Oct 17 2023


[tatterdemalion] yes, you’re absolutely right - this is the real problem with these systems to try out glasses on a screen but also the problem with trying out glasses in an optician, looking in a mirror. I can barely see my reflection in the mirror when trying on new frames
-- hippo, Oct 17 2023


Yes, that might work. It would have to be a considerably bigger screen than a 27" display I think, not because I have an enormous head (although that may be true), but because of my +5 or +6 long-sightedness (hyperopia). My eyes also show presbyopia (the age-related inability to focus on close things) and astigmatism, but these would be less of a problem. This massive image of me might be a bit off-putting to other customers however.
-- hippo, Oct 17 2023


Delaying the try-on image takes care of the removal of your own glasses. Quick as a flash you put your own back on and see the result. This could be programmed as an option to the live feed, as well as choosing the duration of the delay.
-- minoradjustments, Oct 27 2023



random, halfbakery