Samsung patents amazing transforming sunglasses

Change the lens tint and frame style from your phone

Ever wanted to change the style of your sunglasses instantly while you're wearing them? Perhaps not, but it's still a really cool idea, and a patent has just been awarded to Samsung that will allow you to do just that.

According to the patent, a transparent display is wrapped around the lenses and frame of the sunglasses, and the wearer can then use an app on their smartphone to change how the sunglasses look.

For instance you could change the colour and patterns on the frames with only a few taps of your phone, and you could change the colour and tint of the lenses depending on your style or how bright the sun is.

Budding Will.i.ams or Elton Johns who want to change the style of their eye wear as often as the wind changes direction will have to hold their (fabulously attired) horses, however. Although Samsung has been awarded the patent for this fancy smart sunglasses technology, it doesn't mean we'll see the eye wear any time soon.

Still, if Samsung can bring out these smart sunglasses without them making their wearers a laughing stock, we'd be very interested in giving them a try.

Really smart glasses

Thought that glasses just help you see? Think again, as the battle for tech supremacy is being fought right on our faces.

Microsoft HoloLens

Just slightly more ambitious than Samsung's chameleon-like sunglasses, Microsoft's HoloLens promises to mix virtual and augmented reality to place holographic objects and characters in the real world. It might struggle to live up to its hype, but we're looking forward to seeing what Microsoft has planned.

Nike SPARQ Sensory Performance

These glasses can help athletes train and reach their full potential, with a touch screen that provides motion cues, increases visual information processing and helps improve proper timing of motion. It could also help you with the odd game of Ping Pong.