Interview with "Light Particle" Zhang Zhuopeng: Selling Smart Swim Goggles Globally, I Believe the Future of AR Isn't Far Away

Author | Ren Cairu

Imagine this: While swimming with goggles on, a set of green numbers dance before your eyes, presenting real - time information such as swimming distance, laps, duration, pace, and goal completion progress in a concise and clear manner. You can swim with both hands free while keeping track of the entire swimming process.

In the past few months, the smart swimming goggles "Holoswim", which enable this experience, have frequently appeared in our lives. Some primary - market investors mentioned on their WeChat Moments that "this product offers an excellent user experience", and some employees of Internet companies also talked about it when sharing their recent novel sports experiences. Currently, "Holoswim 2s" has also appeared on the shelves of Decathlon stores in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou. Many users posted on Xiaohongshu, saying that its anti - fog function is amazing.

As the product reaches the mass market, compared with many emerging AR glasses and AI glasses manufacturers, "Light Particle Technology" behind Holoswim and its founder, Zhang Zhuopeng, are somewhat out of the spotlight.

Overseas, Light Particle's products are already sold in countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Russia, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Starting with the swimming goggles category, they are also developing new products suitable for scenarios such as cycling, running, hiking, off - roading, skiing, and diving.

Zhang Zhuopeng graduated from the Department of Optoelectronics of Zhejiang University and the High - level Engineering Class of Zhu Kezhen College in 2007. He then went to the United States for further studies and obtained a Ph.D. in ECE and a master's degree in finance from the University of Delaware. In 2017, he founded Light Particle Technology with his classmate from Zhejiang University, Wei Yizhen.

In 2021, when Light Particle released its first - generation AR holographic smart swimming goggles, Holoswim™, it was the only company in the world at that time to mass - produce pure resin optical waveguide technology and launch end - user products.

That year, the AR glasses industry was full of enthusiasm. Big companies like Meta (formerly Facebook), Apple, and Microsoft actively laid out their strategies. More than a dozen AR glasses startups, such as Magic Leap, Liangfengtai, and Nreal, received a new wave of financing one after another. Light Particle, which had received over 100 million in financing, was one of them. With high expectations and a general consensus, the media reported that "AR glasses are really here", and Luo Yonghao's "Thin Red Line" was founded the following year.

Four years later, the "consensus" has gradually turned into "non - consensus". AR glasses manufacturers have all temporarily abandoned the high - cost and difficult optical display part. AI glasses have become the new trend. The sales of the smart glasses "Ray - Ban Meta" jointly launched by Meta and Ray - Ban increased by 300% in the first half of this year.

- "Has the withdrawal, change of direction, or failure of your peers affected your confidence?"

- "No."

During the conversation, when faced with similar "true - or - false" and "multiple - choice" questions, Zhang Zhuopeng would first give a positive answer without hesitation, and then patiently explain why the problem occurred and why he has always believed that AR will come and what the logic and considerations are behind Light Particle's strategy. His thinking usually starts from a strong sense of "starting with the end in mind" and rational optimism.

For example, from the "day one" of starting the business, Light Particle firmly targeted the "consumer - grade" positioning. At that time, the founder of a well - known company in the industry met with Zhang Zhuopeng and suggested that he look into the "Birdbath" (abbreviated as BB, another mature solution in the optical display field of AR glasses, but the resulting lenses are thick).

Although the commercialization conditions of this route are more mature, Zhang Zhuopeng believes that it is only a transitional form of AR glasses and will inevitably be eliminated. He insisted on the holographic optical waveguide route. "From the consumers' perspective, they definitely hope for something beautiful and comfortable. Only the optical waveguide solution can make the lenses thinner."

Another example is that the industry's enthusiasm for AR glasses is declining, mainly because the current sales are not satisfactory, and "once the product is launched, there are problems everywhere." However, the existence of problems does not mean that the demand is fake. "Few people think this is a fake demand or nonsense. Everyone has enthusiasm and expectations. It's just that the product engineering is not in place and the solutions are not perfect enough," Zhang Zhuopeng said.

Looking at the current situation, the popular AI glasses generally focus on audio interaction and rarely incorporate AR display functions. However, Zhang Zhuopeng believes that AR and AI will soon be fully integrated. His "soon" is not a vague concept. "Within next year, the form of smart glasses will shift from pure audio to audio with display."

According to 36Kr, Light Particle is about to launch new products in the Holoswim series this autumn. New products suitable for more scenarios are also being developed simultaneously. Before the general content ecosystem of AR truly matures, Light Particle will still focus on the niche market of sports AR glasses, aiming to achieve "real - time sports assistance." Zhang Zhuopeng said, "First, we need to do the right thing. The issue of difficulty comes second. If we can do a good job in sports and health, it will be valuable."

Light Particle's Holoswim2 AR smart swimming goggles

The following is an edited conversation between 36Kr and Zhang Zhuopeng, the founder of Light Particle Technology:

Make the most feasible choice in the consumer - grade dream on day one

36Kr: When you participated in exhibitions in 2019, you were working on general - purpose AR glasses, and the products launched in the first half of 2021 were also of this type. Then in the second half of 2021, you launched smart swimming goggles and have been focusing on swimming and sports ever since. What happened during this change in product definition?

Zhang Zhuopeng: Initially, most of the smart glasses in the industry used Birdbath technology. The products made were mostly miniaturized helmets, having only the form of glasses but lacking the essence, and the lenses were very heavy. Globally, Light Particle was one of the relatively early and comprehensive companies to explore the optical waveguide smart glasses solution. Although the initial products were made, their size and pricing were far from being accessible to consumers. So, in the following years, we mainly focused on improving the technology.

When it came to real - world commercialization, the content ecosystem of the entire industry was not well - developed yet, and it was impossible for startups to build a content ecosystem overnight. So, we decided to choose a vertical scenario first. After some time of thinking and research, based on the natural advantages of our technology, the pure resin optical waveguide has a good protective effect on the eyes, so we selected the sports scenario.

36Kr: How much did the initially made general - purpose glasses cost?

Zhang Zhuopeng: If we really sold them, they would cost around 8,000 - 10,000 yuan, which is not very consumer - grade.

36Kr: 2021 was a turning point for commercialization.

Zhang Zhuopeng: Yes.

36Kr: What suggestions did the investors give you at that time?

Zhang Zhuopeng: Consumption means that ordinary people pay for products for their own use, so comfort and appearance are important. Since the establishment of the company, we have been aiming at the optical waveguide and consumer - grade direction, and the investors agree with this. As for which specific scenario to start with, it is up to our team to decide.

36Kr: After anchoring the optical waveguide route, what are the important milestones in the process of cost - reduction and commercialization?

Zhang Zhuopeng: There are some issues to be solved with optical waveguides. The first challenge is that we are working on "holographic grating resin optical waveguides". To efficiently design and verify its micro - nano structure, we need to build a design and simulation system. We completed the first version of this system around 2018 and have been continuously improving it.

The second challenge is that to manufacture the products, we need a machine called a "holographic lithography machine". This high - end manufacturing equipment is not available on the market, and the technology is mainly in the hands of companies in the United States and Europe. These companies have been fully acquired or strategically invested in by giants such as Apple, Samsung, and Meta. Naturally, since they want to sell end - user products, they won't sell the production equipment to you. So, if domestic companies want to break through this bottleneck, they have to make high - end manufacturing equipment like holographic lithography machines by themselves. We made the first set at the end of 2018, continuously improved it after 2019, and didn't enter the relatively automated mass - production process until 2021.

The third challenge is that a very important raw material in the manufacturing process is "holographic photoresist". This new material also affects the autonomy and controllability of mass production and product cost. Its formula is quite complex and keeps evolving. We are also continuously developing and iterating it to avoid being restricted by overseas chemical giants in large - scale mass production in the future.

If you can't build a castle in the desert, turn the desert into an oasis first

36Kr: "Singularity Nearby", which was making AR glasses for the cycling field, failed in the first half of this year. How did you feel when you heard the news?

Zhang Zhuopeng: It's a pity. Everyone making AR glasses is aiming for the general scenario and the biggest market share. We also chose the sports scenario first for practical commercial reasons. We had been working in this area for a while without seeing any peers. Later, we found that Singularity Nearby was making cycling glasses based on glass optical waveguides, and it felt like we finally had a fellow traveler.

Actually, before Singularity Nearby, there were other companies working on this, but they voluntarily abandoned this direction and focused on making AI glasses.

36Kr: What do you think is their core problem?

Zhang Zhuopeng: Frankly speaking, using glass optical waveguides for the sports scenario goes against the industry's characteristics. After all, this is a category of sports goggles, and sports goggles should be made of pure resin materials to ensure safety. Since various situations may occur during sports, wearing something with glass lenses would be more dangerous and less "protective" for the eyes, right?

Moreover, if glass optical waveguides are used to make a sports protection structure, the volume will be larger, and the center of gravity will be unstable when shaking or tossing the head. In scenarios like mountain biking, which are quite bumpy, if the weight increases, the wearing comfort will be greatly reduced, and it will also affect sports performance.

36Kr: Did the withdrawal, change of direction, or failure of your peers affect your confidence?

Zhang Zhuopeng: No. It's not that the direction they chose is wrong, nor is it that users don't recognize this direction. Every time a new product is launched, users' comments are quite enthusiastic in the review posts of tech bloggers.

36Kr: Do you mean by "enthusiastic" that people have high expectations for this?

Zhang Zhuopeng: Yes. Few people say that this is a fake innovation or something unnecessary. However, the first batch of users who try the new products will find that there are many problems. But behind these problems is the lack of product engineering. If the solutions are more perfect, users will be willing to experience and purchase the products.

36Kr: Some companies that originally made AR glasses have changed their direction to AI glasses, and some industry insiders say that working on AR at this stage is a waste of time. What's your opinion?

Zhang Zhuopeng: Technology always precedes the ecosystem. Without technology, there can be no ecosystem. Before Apple launched the iPhone, it first solved some important technologies, and then the so - called first - batch of App developers emerged. The same goes for smart glasses. If you ignore basic engineering and technical problems, it's like building a castle in the desert, which is impossible. So, it would indeed be a "waste of time".

What we are doing is turning the desert into an oasis. Some of our peers who are working hard on display chip technology are also doing the same thing, trying to make the desert habitable. Developing applications and scenarios may seem glamorous, but before that, some difficult paths need to be explored first. Everyone is smart, and no one would miss an easy opportunity.

36Kr: Is it difficult to stick to this path?

Zhang Zhuopeng: In my opinion, we should first do the right thing, and the issue of difficulty comes second. It's more important to make the right decisions through careful consideration and trade - offs.

36Kr: After solving core problems like the optical waveguide sheet, is it possible for Light Particle to become an important supply - chain company in the industry?

Zhang Zhuopeng: It depends on opportunities and the evolution of the industry.

36Kr: After the supply - chain technology is fully mature and becomes a selectable component on the shelves, will there be a big opportunity for consumer - oriented operators in the industry?

Zhang Zhuopeng: Yes. We also need such opportunities. If you know anyone like this, please introduce them to me.

AR will definitely come, and it's not that far away

36Kr: Do you pay attention to users' evaluations of the products? Some users think that Light Particle's swimming goggles are not light enough.

Zhang Zhuopeng: Yes, so they need continuous iteration. Our internal product scoring system is very strict. Without the holographic resin optical waveguide technology, the AR smart swimming goggles would not even pass the basic standard. Even with this technology, in our own eyes, it has just barely passed the passing mark. I think there is still a long way to reach a score of 80 or 90 out of 100.

36Kr: What does this "long way" mean?

Zhang Zhuopeng: First, we hope to further iterate based on the optical waveguide technology, so that the weight, thickness, and some other indicators can approach the theoretical limit.

Second, the evolution of a product depends on all participants in the industry. With the improvement of display chips, the size and appearance of these glasses can be further enhanced.

36Kr: Can you describe what a perfect - score smart swimming goggles product would look like?

Zhang Zhuopeng: Its shape and size should be infinitely close to those of traditional fashionable swimming goggles. Since it has to add some display components, circuit boards, and batteries, it will inevitably sacrifice a little weight, but it can be very close. Additionally, if its price range can be similar to that of mid - to high - end swimming goggles products like Anta, Li Ning, Speedo, or Arena, it will be a milestone. If it can achieve intelligence at a similar price, the substitution effect for consumers who pursue quality of life will be very obvious.

36Kr: How long will it take to reach this form? As you said, it's not the work of a single company.

Zhang Zhuopeng: Within a year.

36Kr: That soon?

Zhang Zhuopeng: This industry is developing very fast, and our own iteration speed is also rapid.

36Kr: The current products sold by Light Particle are all different configurations of Holoswim2. What's the product plan for this year?

Zhang Zhuopeng: We will launch two new models of swimming goggles. One will be an iteration of the current product, called Holoswim3, and the other will be a brand - new independent product line, offering a new experience. Besides swimming, we also have multi - functional outdoor sports products. We think it's time to expand the application scenarios.

36Kr: What kind of product line do you hope the company will have in the end? Will you go back to the original general - purpose products?

Zhang Zhuopeng: We are not a company good at telling stories. Whether we will go back or not remains a mystery. At least for now, we will thoroughly explore the field of AI/AR + sports.