All Episodes

September 4, 2025 11 mins

What if the glasses you wear every day could project information directly into your field of vision without bulk, weight, or distortion? Augmented Reality (AR) smart glasses promise to revolutionize how we interact with technology, but challenges remain: Cost, style, accessibility, and consumer adoption.  

In this episode of Full Tech Ahead, host Amanda Razani sits down with Kentaro Mihara, CTO of Cellid, a pioneering company based in Tokyo that’s developing waveguide technology, the breakthrough component making AR glasses lightweight, stylish, and consumer-ready. 

Kentaro shares insider knowledge on how waveguides work, why plastic lenses may be the future, and how AR glasses could soon be used for payments, accessibility, and everyday convenience. If you’ve ever wondered when AR glasses will fully enter the mainstream, this conversation will answer your questions and spark new ones. 

 

Timestamps  

[00:00] Introduction and Guest Background 

[01:30] What is a Waveguide and Why It Matters 

[03:20] Prescription Challenges and Innovations 

[05:15] Consumer Adoption Challenges 

[06:30] Glass vs. Plastic: Which Wins?  

[07:50] Current Market Trends and Competition 

[08:45] Affordability and Market Entry 

[09:50] Partnerships and Ecosystem Growth 

[10:25] Accessibility and Real-World Use Cases 

[11:20] Future Roadmap and Innovation Cycles 


Quotes 

  • “The waveguide is basically the heart of the AR glasses. Without it, you can’t have a lightweight, stylish display system.” – Kentaro Mihara  
  • “Plastic waveguides are twice as light and much more resilient than glass, making them ideal for everyday wear.” – Kentaro Mihara  

Takeaways 

  1. Waveguides are the future of AR: They solve some of the biggest challenges of bulk, style, and cost.  
  2. Plastic beats glass: For consumer AR, being lightweight and durability is critical  

 

 Conclusion 

Augmented reality glasses are not science fiction; they’re on the verge of mainstream adoption. With innovators like Kentaro Mihara and Cellid pushing waveguide technology forward, the future of AR promises glasses that are lightweight, stylish, affordable and powerful tools. Stay tuned, because the next generation of AR wearables may be closer than you think. 

 

Related Link:  

Amanda Razani’s article on Gadget Magazine and MSN: https://gadget.co.za/arcellid152m/ 

Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/ 

Many Thanks to our Show Sponsor: VariaAI 

 

And special thanks to our Founding Sponsor: Cloudnium 

 

Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.