A team of POSTECH researchers just unveiled a new method to create ultra-thin, lightweight Augmented Reality (AR) glasses. The updated approach could help make AR realistic for everyday use, ushering in a new era of tech across several sectors. Here’s how this team could drive AR adoption to new heights in the coming years.
What Is Augmented Reality and Why Does It Matter?
Augmented reality (AR) refers to blending the digital and real worlds in a seamless interface. The concept has existed since 1968, when Harvard computer scientist Ivan Sutherland, also known as the father of computer graphics, first introduced his AR head-mounted display.
It wouldn’t be until 2008 that the first commercially available AR systems began to spring up. In this instance, a German advertising agency coupled the technology with a magazine ad that, when held in front of a computer camera, allowed the user to manipulate the magazine image on the screen.
Since that time, AR has seen massive growth across the manufacturing, entertainment, and military sectors. You can find AR systems all over today. From the headsets worn by advanced fighter pilots, all the way to popular mobile games like Pokémon GO, AR tech continues to reshape how we interact with the world.
How Big Is the Augmented Reality Market in 2024?
There is a strong desire by manufacturers to make AR an everyday technology. This push can be seen by the market’s growth. In 2024, the AR market hit $42.48B in value. According to the latest Immersive Entertainment—Global Strategic Business Report 2024, the global market for Immersive Entertainment sat at $133.6B in 2024. Impressively, the global AR market is predicted to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42.36%. This growth rate means that by 2029, the market will be worth +$248.38B.
What’s Holding Back Everyday AR Glasses?
Despite the predicted growth and a steady increase in manufacturers, there are still many problems with today’s AR systems that need to be addressed before they can take flight. For one, the headwear for these devices is too bulky and heavy.
Augmented Reality users are unable to truly experience daily usage because the devices are just too uncomfortable for prolonged wear. Imagine if your Smartwatch weighed a pound. There’s little chance that you would consider wearing it all day, or even for tasks that require delicate and precise hand movements.
The same scenario goes for AR systems. Their comfort level needs to surpass their usefulness. People want a lightweight device that is barely noticeable. The ideal form factor would be like traditional glasses and weigh about the same.
Why Waveguides Are a Bottleneck for AR Headsets
At the core of the AR market’s issues is the way that the tech displays images. The AR optics utilize waveguide layers that assist in chromatic dispersion, guiding virtual images to your eye. Currently, AR systems can require a separate waveguide layer for each color. As such, these devices can have 3-6 stacked glass sheets in each eye.
Additionally, the devices need multilayer grating couplers to function properly. Sadly, these devices require complex fabrication processes that are expensive and involve high-level expertise, adding to their costs. When you examine these costs, coupled with the fact that these devices remain too heavy for ergonomic head-mounted applications, it’s easy to see where engineers need to focus.
Can Metasurfaces Solve AR Design Challenges?
One method that has seen some interest is the use of metasurfaces. Metasurfaces are specially made subwavelength photonic resonators. The resonators are designed to repeat at certain intervals, allowing engineers to independently modify key aspects, including amplitude, phase, and polarization. Sadly, this solution has fallen short of its goals due to factors such as low efficiency, chromatic aberration, and poor uniformity.
POSTECH’s Breakthrough: Achromatic Metagratings for AR
Recognizing the need for more advanced AR systems, Professor Junsuk Rho and colleagues at POSTECH introduced an AR glasses manufacturing process that produces results as thin and light as regular prescription eyewear. The report1 Single-layer waveguide displays using achromatic metagratings for full-colour augmented reality, published in Nature Nanotechnology, delves into how the team was able to create a single-layer waveguide display using achromatic metagratings rather than multiple lenses.
Source – POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology)
The engineers combine a single-layer waveguide substrate with dispersion-free couplers to create a pair of AR glasses that can handle all colors in a single glass layer. As part of this approach, the team had to turn towards a technique called achromatic metagrating. This strategy eliminated the need for multiple layers, lowering manufacturing costs, complexity, and time.
How the Researchers Engineered a Single-Layer Display
The engineers leveraged periodic arrays of rectangular nanostructures to accomplish their goals. The specially created surface is capable of diffracting red, green, and blue lights in the same direction. As part of this approach, the team integrated nanoscale silicon-nitride (Si₃N₄) in specially positioned pillars within the structure. These pillars allowed engineers to fine-tune their creation as needed.
Advanced Algorithms Improve Light Control in AR Glasses
The team turned towards a stochastic topology-optimization algorithm to ensure that the device achieved maximum efficiency. The design allowed the scientists to steer the light to achieve an achromatic propagation angle within the single waveguide substrate. This approach enabled the team to create sustainable, high-quality projected images.
Better Ergonomics: The 9mm Eyebox Advantage
One of the core components of the device is its eye box. The engineers needed to ensure that the ergonomics and comfort level were excellent. As such, they determined that a larger 9-mm eye box was the ideal shape and size. They noted that the larger eye box provided constant image quality and could maintain its sharpness, even if the wearer were to glance in different directions.
Testing the New AR Glasses Prototype
The team tested their designs across several days. They successfully created full-color images that offered vivid color and precise images. The researchers utilized a 500-µm-thick single-layer waveguide as part of the tests. This full-color augmented reality waveguide display provided the wearer with a lightweight, comfortable alternative to its predecessors.
What Did the Tests Reveal? Performance and Visuals
The test results showed that the upgraded approach was fully capable of recreating full-color images from the ultralight design. The proprietary setup helped to solve several key limitations found in traditional augmented reality near-eye optical designs. For one, the upgraded device eliminated color blur. Additionally, it demonstrated superior uniformity and provided a brighter display image.
Why This New AR Interface Could Change Everything
Several benefits make the new AR interface a success. For one, it reduces the device form factor and weight, allowing a person to wear the AR head unit comfortably for an extended period. This ultra-thin and light design was made possible because the waveguide measured only one-hundredth the diameter of a human hair. Here are a few other crucial benefits that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Quality Images
The new AR system provides better quality images. The reduction of wavelength layers helped to improve brightness and quality. These systems mustn’t sacrifice graphics to improve ergonomics. Notably, this design improves all aspects while reducing overall weight.
Manufacturing Costs
Manufacturing advanced AR glasses is a time-consuming and expensive task. Since the majority of today’s glasses require 3-6 waveguides per unit, the cost of creating the devices is far more than a single wave grating unit. These engineers introduce a trimmed and simpler production process that provides better results.
Scalable
Another key benefit is that the new AR glasses setup is customizable. This arrangement can be adjusted to support large-area fabrication. This approach will allow more manufacturers to enter the market, enhancing competition and innovation.
When Could These Glasses Hit the Market?
There are a lot of uses for this technology. For one, the study introduces next-generation AR displays that can be integrated across a massive array of industries. From doctors utilizing the technology to conduct complex surgeries, to military pilots zooming past air defences, all the way to finding the best deals in your mall, these systems are destined for advanced uses.
AR Interfaces Timeline
There has been no timeline mentioned by the engineers. However, the sheer demand for better AR interfaces, combined with the industry’s impressive growth rate, makes it safe to assume that this tech will hit the market in under 5 years. The technology to accomplish the task is already available, and manufacturers are eager to cut down on prices while providing better products to the market.
AR Interfaces Researchers
The AR interfaces study was put forth by Seokil Moon, Seokwoo Kim, Joohoon Kim, Chang-Kun Lee, and Junsuk Rho. The team has worked with AR systems in the past, and this latest upgrade is the culmination of years of research.
Notably, the study received support from Samsung Research, POSCO Holdings N.EX.T Impact, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s Alchemist Project, the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Global Convergence Research Support Program, and the Mid-Career Researcher Program.
Next Steps: Partnering for AR Commercialization
There’s a lot of commercialization potential when discussing the upgraded AR interfaces. These systems could become as common as your cell phone one day. As such, the engineers now seek to find industrial and manufacturing partners to help bring the concept into production.
Commercial Players Positioned to Benefit from AR Innovation
The AR market is a competitive sector that continues to see more manufacturers and designers entering the space. The growing market is a direct result of an expanded demand by consumers for advanced AR products.
As more companies respond to these demands, it’s easy to see that some firms continue to lead the race. Here’s one company that has excellent market positioning and the ability to integrate the latest AR study findings to drive its bottom line
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD +6.04%) entered the market in 1969 as a chip producer. This Silicon Valley start-up was founded by Jerry Sanders to support more advanced and faster computer systems. Since its launch, AMD has grown to become one of the leading names in chip manufacturing and the AR sector.
Today, AMD is known for its advanced processors that support high-performance computing, visualization technologies, and improved graphics. Additionally, the company continues to expand its positioning within the AR market. Currently, it plays a significant role in the AR industry, providing advanced chips to support next-generation applications.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD +6.04%)
AMD is one of the biggest names in the tech sector. It currently has strategic partnerships with various conglomerates. For example, AMD chips are what powers Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Series X|S game consoles.
This positioning has helped AMD to secure a $166.75B market cap alongside a $164.17B valuation. Currently, the company’s stock has a trailing PE ratio of 75.08 and the forward PE ratio is 24.28. According to company records, AMD has secured a revenue of $27.75B and earned $2.23B in profits this year. Those seeking a reputable company that has a foothold in the budding AR sector should consider doing more research into AMD.
Final Thoughts: Bringing AR Into Daily Life
It’s interesting to see how technology that once seemed like sci-fi is now on the verge of becoming everyday-use items. AR significantly improves your capabilities and helps create a more capable society. To achieve these goals, AR designs need to first conquer basic human desires like comfort and reliability. If they can achieve these goals, there’s endless potential for the technology moving forward.
Learn about other cool AR and VR projects now.
Studies Referenced:
1. Moon, S., Kim, S., Kim, J. et al. Single-layer waveguide displays using achromatic metagratings for full-colour augmented reality. Nat. Nanotechnol. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-025-01887-3