MBTA rail workers to test 'bionic' eyeglasses

BOSTON — In September, Keolis Commuter Services (KCS), which operates the Greater Boston commuter rail system for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), will give AR (alternative reality) smart glasses to field mechanics so they can communicate with expert technicians in its main maintenance facility, MIT Technology Review reported.

The project, which will aim to speed up train repairs and reduce the disruptions they cause, will use technology that enables the wearer to stream video and converse in real time — typically from the field — with someone located elsewhere, such as an office, the report said.

Usually, the person in the field accesses the interface via the smart glasses and a smartphone that is tethered to them, while the remote expert on the other end uses a laptop, according to MIT Technology Review. For the full story, click here.