The binoculars' ability to identify birds comes from the Merlin Bird ID project by Cornell Lab of Ornithology. While apps for identifying bird species already exist, this is the first time the feature has been incorporated into a handheld pair of binoculars. The binoculars also keep track of location due to GPS.
Key takeaways:
- Austria-based Swarovski Optik has introduced the AX Visio 10x32 binoculars, which can identify over 9,000 species of birds and mammals using image recognition technology.
- The binoculars, which are being marketed as the world's first "smart binoculars," are priced at $4,799.
- The binoculars use the Merlin Bird ID project, created by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to identify birds. The user looks at an animal through the binoculars, presses a button, and the identified animal name appears on the built-in binocular HUD screen within about five seconds.
- While apps to identify bird species already exist, this feature is now packed into a handheld pair of binoculars, which also keeps track of location due to GPS.