North

North was a Canadian wearable computing company that developed gesture-control hardware and augmented reality smart glasses. Founded in 2012 as Thalmic Labs, it combined human-computer interaction research with hardware engineering, embedded software and optical design. Its work progressed from interpreting muscle activity as digital input to presenting information through custom-fitted eyewear.

The company's first major product, the Myo armband, used surface electromyography sensors and inertial measurement units to detect forearm muscle activity and movement. It translated hand and wrist gestures into wireless commands for computers and other connected devices. Unveiled in 2013, Myo reached developers in 2014 before its consumer launch in 2015. Applications included presentations, gaming, music performance, robotics and surgical imaging controls, supported by a software development kit and an application ecosystem.

From gesture control to smart eyewear

The business subsequently shifted toward augmented reality glasses and adopted the North name in October 2018. Its Focals glasses were designed to resemble everyday spectacle frames while displaying a transparent interface visible to the wearer. Their functions included navigation, calendar alerts, messaging and Amazon Alexa integration. A small ring controller, the Loop, provided directional input for navigating the interface.

North's capabilities extended across wearable hardware prototyping, optical architecture, retinal projection, embedded firmware, sensor fusion and companion software. Delivering Focals also required precise measurements and custom fitting. The company initially used in-person facial scanning and later introduced an iOS-based scanning application to support online ordering.

The first generation faced commercial difficulties associated with manufacturing costs, fitting requirements and limited consumer adoption. North stopped production and sales in December 2019 to concentrate on Focals 2.0, a proposed smaller design with a sharper display.

Google acquired North in June 2020. The second-generation product was cancelled, and the existing Focals cloud services, companion application functionality and user accounts were shut down on July 31, 2020. Customers received full refunds, while North's engineering talent and intellectual property were integrated into Google's hardware and ambient computing work.