Google has unveiled 'Jetpack Compose Glimmer,' a new design system for transparent display-based AI glasses. This is a dedicated interface framework for the Android augmented reality environment that attempts to fundamentally redefine existing mobile-centric design grammar.
This project was led by Google Senior Visual Designer David Allin Reese. He explained that unlike traditional screen-based design, AI glasses must start from the premise that they display information overlaid on the real world rather than on a rectangular screen. The interface is projected about one meter in front of the lens rather than onto the lens surface, and users must shift their focus to read the information. This creates an environment that requires active attention shifting rather than passive consumption.
Technical limitations also exist. This display operates using an additive method of adding light, so it cannot represent black. Black is closer to a state of transparency than a color. Accordingly, Glimmer redefined black not as a color, but as a concept of a container. By utilizing dark surfaces and deep shadows to express hierarchy and a sense of depth, it replaced the opaque layering method of traditional Material Design.
The typography has also been redesigned. Instead of pixels or points, viewing angle standards have been applied to establish a readability standard of at least 0.6 degrees. Additionally, by utilizing the optical size axis of Google Sans Flex to adjust letter spacing and internal spacing, clear readability has been ensured even at long distances.
The color strategy has also changed. It was identified that highly saturated colors appeared to fade out in real-world environments. Accordingly, the interface uses a neutral palette by default, while content is rendered in bright colors to maintain additive contrast. This choice was made to ensure stable readability in various environments, such as under the sky or indoor lighting.
The motion design also reflects the characteristics of human attention. Notifications appear gradually over approximately two seconds and move smoothly from the periphery of the field of vision to the center. Conversely, it ensures responsiveness by providing immediate feedback to user input.
