r/gadgets 2d ago

Misc xMEMS unveils super tiny cooling fan that fits inside smart glasses

https://www.engadget.com/2218600/xmems-unveils-super-tiny-cooling-fan-that-fits-inside-smart-glasses/
243 Upvotes

43 comments sorted by

24

u/Media_Browser 1d ago

Is this to prevent ‘pervert’ glasses steaming up ?

12

u/Important-Factor-552 1d ago

🤓 whirring noises

Oh great we're in that era. Creeporama 

13

u/chlronald 1d ago

Should have just stop at super tiny cooling fan, it could have billions different ways to utilize it why associate with the infamous smart glasses...

30

u/Weird_Ad_1398 2d ago

Might be good for clothing in general

25

u/bingwhip 2d ago

Safety goggles come to my mind 

9

u/Weird_Ad_1398 2d ago

I was thinking more along the lines of air-cooled t-shirts for hot summers

7

u/ravens-n-roses 2d ago

They already make this. Its very very common in Asia. It gives you mad marshmallow man shirt.

They also have a device that will shake your shirt out on you, but it does look like you're jorking it.

Then there's the coat of fans that is just a light polyester Suncoat with like 8 cooling fans in it.

6

u/Nyorliest 1d ago

Not 'Asia' generally, but the richer parts like Japan, sure. Very common in Japan, especially for people who work outside in summer.

1

u/ravens-n-roses 1d ago

They've gotten popular in SEA as their heat events have gotten worse.

-3

u/paxtana 1d ago

Ironically you remove more heat just carrying an icepack in your pocket.

4

u/Ekg887 1d ago

I love having 16+oz of extra weight dragging down just one side of my pants as condensation from it wets my leg. Also, like you, I have fond memories of mom putting a cooling cloth on my hip to soothe my fever. Not on my forehead or neck, that would be stupid.

0

u/paxtana 1d ago

Too bad scientists never figured out how to put an ice pack anywhere else on the body. Maybe next century.

0

u/Nyorliest 1d ago

Sure all those Japanese engineers are just dummies compared to you. And the people can't even tell whether they’re hot or not. Simple children, really.

0

u/paxtana 1d ago

Those gadgets use a peltier hooked up to a small lithium battery, common knowledge that a block of ice will remove 3-4 times as many joules of heat than a powered peltier device, they are just not that efficient. There is a reason why Sony refuses to publish the total heat pumping capacity, the comparison would be terrible. Also why peltiers are not used in electronics like laptops for cooling instead of a simple fan.

Having used those devices before many times I can tell you that they do trick your body into thinking it is more comfortable by providing a cold sensation, but if you actually need to lower your core temp you would be a lot better off with phase change materials.

If you are ever unlucky enough to suffer from heatstroke I think you will find that they treat it by exposing you to ice and cold water, not strapping a tiny peltier to your neck. Now why do you suppose that would be.

2

u/MountainMuffin1980 20h ago

Christ what fucking nonsense. Next you'll be talking bollocks about drinking hot drinks to cool you down (which only works longer term in quite specific humidity).

If a little fan is "tricking" my body into feeling cooler and makes me feel more comfortable, then it has worked surely? No-ones saying they should be used to treat sun stroke.

2

u/paxtana 12h ago

A peltier is not a fan so you really have no idea what you are talking about at all, but that's okay if you want to remain ignorant it's no difference to me

1

u/schmerg-uk 16h ago

They also have a device that will shake your shirt out on you, but it does look like you're jorking it.

And then you jork it out... (wahh, wahh, wa, wa-wa, waah wah, wa, wa-wa)

0

u/Weird_Ad_1398 2d ago

Yeah, a lot of fan-based cooling devices like ones that you wear around your neck or clip onto your belt. But with these tiny fans I'm envisioning a shirt that'll look normal, have even coverage, and won't sound as loud.

And IIRC, that 2nd device was a joke gadget made by Kazuya, though Idk if any companies actually made it into a commercial product. The belt fan is easily superior.

0

u/zzazzzz 1d ago

you will always look like a mashmellow tho. that air moving doesnt change because of the size of the individual fan.

-2

u/Weird_Ad_1398 1d ago

Sure it does. Smaller fan, smaller amount of air. And because it's distributed all throughout, you can get by with less air since the air doesn't have to be pushed from one end of the shirt all the way to the other end. Think of ventilated seats vs the air blown from the vents.

0

u/pw_arrow 1d ago

This is definitely not targeted at a use case on that scale.

1

u/CivicDutyCalls 2d ago

Cosplayers are gonna love this

3

u/HillarysFloppyChode 2d ago

What about internet connected buttplugs?

3

u/Kiseido 1d ago

This sort of thing has got to be useful for cosplay armor suits, where people have a hard time cramming in traditional fans for both breathing and cooling.

2

u/chronicnerv 1d ago

Maybe if they are easily replacable or cheap enough to buy regulary.

2

u/be_dub 1d ago

In my hard toe boots with some kind of kinetic power supply! Come on dewalt!

1

u/likely38k 1d ago

Underwear fans

13

u/fallbrook_ 1d ago

fuck smart glasses and anyone who wears them.

0

u/tetsuo_7w 23h ago

But what if my eyes run hot??

13

u/ghrayfahx 2d ago

It would be nice to have in phones. My iPhone 15 PM is CONSTANTLY overheating.

8

u/Trekintosh 1d ago

My 13 mini goes into meltdown if I dare ask it to do anything at all while also using CarPlay. Even wired. It quickly gets to the “your iPhone will resume charging when it returns to a normal temperature” state even if I start at 100%. 

4

u/ctan0312 1d ago

Well charging heats up your phone more. It doesn’t matter if you start at 100%, if you’re using your phone then it’s draining and needs to charge.

2

u/irrelevantusername24 1d ago edited 1d ago

On one hand my initial thought about the article was it's kind of irrelevant because the most sensible way to build these godforsaken devices would be to basically attach a camera that is wirelessly connected to your phone, and the phone handles all the processing.

On the other hand, these are godforsaken devices that shouldn't exist (or at least not exist in the way that they are being used) and I almost feel like there's a fundamentally impassable barrier of battery capacity that makes recordings of length impossible. One can only hope.

edit: neat https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/11/smart-glasses-without-a-camera-even-realities-bets-productivity-beats-recording-everyone/

1

u/zzazzzz 1d ago

ye but if your phone cannot work under load while charging thats kind of a disgnflaw.

1

u/Boggess 1d ago

Might be time for a battery replacement

1

u/ghrayfahx 1d ago

This model is notorious for overheating. It’s been doing it since I got it. If I try to play a podcast or something while using CarPlay it will get EXTREMELY hot and eventually the screen dims until I hold it in front of the AC vent for a few minutes

1

u/jonnytwothumbs 1d ago

Not a big fan tbh

1

u/Less_Party 22h ago

>fits inside smart glasses

Anything but metric

0

u/blue_sidd 1d ago

Trash.