Project Hub /Basic Analog & Power Electronics/DIY Google Glasses with Transparent OLED using Raspberry Pi

Intermediate

RASPBERRY PI

₹5,000 – ₹15,000

3 – 6 Hours

Partial Kit

DIY Google Glasses with Transparent OLED using Raspberry Pi

Build your own budget-friendly smart glasses using a Raspberry Pi Zero W and a transparent OLED display to show time, books, and information as a floating overlay.

Originally published on ElectronicsForU

View original tutorial

Parts You'll Need

This project is sourced from another site, not written by us — this list is our best match of their components against what we stock, not a verified bill of materials. Always check the original blog (linked above) for the actual parts list before buying.

Raspberry Pi 3 - Model B+ 1.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core Processor with 1 GB Ram (Original) Rs. 9,810.00
0.96 Inch I2C/IIC 4pin OLED Display Module White Rs. 349.00
400 Points Mini Solderless Prototype PCB Breadboard High Quality Rs. 89.00
MB102 Adjustable Breadboard Power Supply Module (3.3V & 5V) for Arduino & Raspberry Pi Rs. 139.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Male 20cm Rs. 45.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Female 20cm Rs. 45.00

Selected: Rs. 0.00

We don't carry yet: Battery (generic / unspecified)
Eyeglass

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How It Works

This wearable heads-up display system operates by interfacing a compact Raspberry Pi Zero W directly with a small 2.9cm transparent OLED display mounted onto an ordinary pair of eyeglasses. The Raspberry Pi runs Raspbian OS and executes custom Python 3 scripts utilizing specialized libraries like numpy, PIL, and hardware-specific modules (such as bcm2835 and spidev) to render text and graphical elements. Because the display is transparent, pixel data rendered as bright white or color on the OLED module appears as a luminous, floating overlay directly in the user's field of vision, while darker pixels remain see-through. A portable battery powers the entire assembly, allowing the Raspberry Pi to compute information—such as the current time or text from digital books—and refresh the pixel array dynamically via the display's communication interface. The system bridges lightweight computational processing with miniature visual output hardware, resulting in a self-contained wearable computing prototype.

Why Build This

Design and prototype custom augmented reality (AR) interfaces for undergraduate engineering capstone applications.

Explore wearable computing architectures by integrating low-power microcomputers with transparent micro-displays.

Develop hands-free assistive vision or contextual information display systems using Python and embedded Linux.

Real-World Application

Wearable computing, hands-free information display, augmented reality prototypes, and assistive vision tech.

Skills You'll Learn

Embedded Linux configuration

Python graphical rendering

SPI/I2C peripheral communication

wearable hardware integration

battery power management

Safety Precautions

No specific precautions noted for this build — always follow general electronics safety practices.

Technology Tags

PYTHON

RASPBERRY PI

TRANSPARENT OLED DISPLAY

WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY

IOT

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a regular Raspberry Pi instead of a Raspberry Pi Zero W?

Yes, but larger models like the Pi 4 or 5 will be too heavy and bulky to mount comfortably on an ordinary pair of eyeglasses.

How is power supplied to the glasses while wearing them?

A small, lightweight portable USB battery pack (power bank) is typically carried in a pocket and connected to the Raspberry Pi Zero W via a thin cable.

Will the transparent OLED completely block my vision?

No, transparent OLED displays allow ambient light to pass through the unlit pixels, creating a see-through floating overlay effect rather than fully blocking your view.

Gallery

This page is part of Kitkraft's Project Hub — a curated collection of electronics & robotics projects gathered from the maker community to help students and hobbyists discover and learn to build. Kitkraft does not claim authorship of the original project, and makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness or safety of third-party source material. The summary and "How It Works" explanation above are AI-generated, rewritten with reference to the original tutorial — not a reproduction of it. Full credit and a direct link to the original source are provided above. If you're the original creator and have a concern about how your work is represented here, please contact us and we'll address it promptly.

Kitkraft Project Hub — curated from the maker community, credited at the source.

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