Nimo Planet Has Launched A Spatial Computing System For Productivity Apps

Nimo is a mini-computer that sits on your head and gives you six virtual screens to use when you're away from your desk.

Nimo Planet, based in San Francisco, has released its Nimo Operating System (Nimo OS) and Nimo Core tiny computer. Together with the previously announced Nimo Glass, these new technologies create a full spatial computing system meant to provide a personalized, multi-screen office experience for the hybrid worker.

The Nimo Planet system combines unique hardware and software to provide a high-performance experience for productivity apps. The pocket-sized Nimo Core computational device, along with the virtual, private display provided by Nimo Glass, allows professionals to reap the benefits of a multi-monitor configuration without being confined to a typical desk.

After finding the usefulness and portability of smart devices to be limited, Nimo Planet CEO Rohildev Nattukallingal conceptualized the system.

"Nimo Planet's technology provides the same luxuries of a multi-monitor setup in a desk-free form factor," said Nattukallingal in a statement. "A common complaint from professionals who work across multiple locations, often on a daily basis, is that juggling devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops routinely compromises their workspace and productivity." The present mobile computing solutions limit our capacity to be productive, organized, and comfortable when on the road. Nimo is changing this approach by deploying spatial computing in a novel and simplified manner, giving an enterprise-class workspace wherever people go."

Nimo Beta

Nimo's targeted approach is what makes it seem promising. It's not attempting to do everything. There are no augmented reality mechanics. There is no camera for you to take images with. There are no speakers, either, so you'll have to attach your own Bluetooth earbuds to the spectacles. And these glasses aren't meant to do demanding jobs like Photoshop, but rather lower-level apps like word processing and project management.

"We want to make the hardware as simple as possible while also ensuring that multiscreen productivity works well," says Nimo Planet's founder and CEO, Rohildev Nattukallingal. "For us, everything else is secondary. That's why we don't have a camera, speaker, or depth sensors—all of the large businesses are focusing on creating the next mixed reality environment, but our approach is more concerned with how we can help someone work anywhere without compromising productivity."

Potential customers Nattukallingal has met with are interested in installing mixed reality glasses for employees who need to work while traveling. The first benefit? No one can look over your shoulder and see what's on your screen, which is vital if you're dealing with sensitive contracts. (This is also touted as a benefit of Lenovo's ThinkReality A3, its tethered smart glasses technology.)

Second, companies know that having numerous monitors to work with makes employees more efficient, but it's difficult to reproduce that experience outside of the home or office. Six virtual panels should assist, especially since the entire gadget is lighter than a laptop and its big charger. The current prototype of Nimo weighs 120 grams, which is 10 grams less than the ThinkReality A3, but Nattukallingal plans to trim off roughly 30 grams before launch.

Nattukallingal demonstrated the simplicity of multitasking on Nimo in a Zoom demo. The user can drag any app to the desired location by right-clicking on a wireless mouse. Nattukallingal opened Microsoft Word next to PowerPoint and positioned Slack to the far left. As he demonstrated, you may move your head at any time to view one of the six virtual screens. You can add widgets such as your calendar to the top. Settings such as Wi-Fi can be found and toggled down below.

Apps are what will make or break these glasses. According to Nattukallingal, because Nimo OS is built on a forked version of Android, it lacks the certification to run the Google Play Store. However, many Android apps, including the aforementioned Microsoft programs, will run just fine when downloaded from open-source app stores. Some, such as Google Workspace apps, are inextricably linked to Google Play Services and hence incompatible with Nimo, although you'll wind up using the web app instead.

"The OS manages the native Android apps to run on multiple screens and splits the apps into multiple windows," adds Nattukallingal. "No changes are required for developers to support Nimo OS." We will have [a software development kit] in the future for developers to create upgraded Nimo apps."

Thousands of productivity apps designed for Android and Web operating systems can be used with the glasses. (Think Microsoft Word or Slack instead of complex creative software such as Adobe Photoshop.) Furthermore, with a right-click or a turn of the head, the wearer will be able to switch between up to six different screens, apps, or widgets at any time. You could quickly check your calendar and then return to finish a PowerPoint presentation, for example.

Because the glasses can connect to Bluetooth, you can pair them with a keyboard or mouse to boost your productivity even further. To receive and send data, you can also connect them to WiFi or a Mobile Hotspot.

In regard to juice, two Nimos can operate continuously for about 2.5 hours on a single charge. Comparable to a wireless earbud case, the carrying case doubles as a charging station thanks to an integrated battery.

These aren't the most fashionable frames, as one might anticipate. The final product is anticipated to weigh about 90 grams and have a slightly more polished appearance, although the beta prototype has rather bulky arms and weighs about 120 grams. In order to accommodate a variety of head sizes, the glasses additionally feature adjustable hinges.

Nimo Core

Nimo Core's compact size measures 63mm in width, 43mm in length, and 23mm in thickness. The proprietary rendering approach maximizes resource economy by lowering CPU and memory utilization. It places 2D programs in varied depths to render up to six high-fidelity 3D screens into the physical world. This method systematically optimizes performance and battery life while minimizing heat output, ensuring that the device remains comfortable when multitasking.

The Nimo Core device includes a user-centric design with a trackpad and Air Mouse, a handheld navigational aid, to provide easy access to Nimo OS applications. Users can navigate popular workplace programs intuitively, make customized screen modifications, and connect input devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or trackpad.

"As workers and businesses continue to operate in diverse settings, Nimo Planet is ensuring that full suite workstations are available with ease of access no matter where work takes place," said Jerome Oglesby, technology advisory partner at Ahead and former Deloitte top technologist, in a statement. "The combination of Nimo Core, Nimo OS, and Nimo Glass enables work in versatile environments that transcend physical space limitations — an ideal solution for transporting a large office setup or expanding a small desk space." The technology enables highly productive professionals to travel light and transform any place into an ideal interactive workspace."

Nimo OS

Nimo OS is based on Linux and the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), and it makes use of the robustness and adaptability of the Android platform. In order to guarantee software compatibility, it also supports a large selection of Mac and Windows apps via USB-C or Remote Desktop.

The granting of an India design patent for Nimo Glass and a U.S. utility patent for Nimo OS Spatial Workspace and Multi-Window Architecture validates Nimo Planet's original technology in the market.

The company garnered support from early investors such as April Ventures' Ravi and Raguram Linganuri, Fittr's Jitendra Chouksey, and Polygon's Jayanti Kanani. Ritesh Malik, the creator and CEO of Innov8, has joined Nimo Planet's board of directors.

Nimo Planet's beta testing developer and enterprise programs have attracted hundreds of participants who have implemented Nimo's operating system and glass solution in their offices.

Nimo Planet's spatial computing system is still under beta testing and is not yet for sale. Customers who are interested in purchasing the system when it becomes available can do so by visiting the official website.

Nimo OS Spatial Workspace and Multi-Window Architecture received a US utility patent, while Nimo Glass received an India design patent.

Conclusion

Nimo Planet's spatial computing system for productivity apps is a significant step forward for the industry. The system offers a number of benefits for users, including increased productivity, reduced fatigue, improved ergonomics, and increased privacy. Nimo Planet is currently offering early access to its system for developers and enterprises, and it is expected to be released to the general public in the near future.