Recon Instruments

Recon Instruments, a Canadian technology firm, was established in January 2008 by Dan Eisenhardt, Hamid Abdollahi, Fraser Hall, and Darcy Hughes. The company's core idea originated from an integrated MBA project at the University of British Columbia in 2006. Initially, the founders, inspired by competitive swimmer Eisenhardt, explored developing heads-up display (HUD) technology for swimming goggles. However, due to an existing patent and technical challenges, they pivoted to the winter sports market.

The company's business focused on producing smartglasses and wearable displays marketed as HUDs for sports and high-intensity environments. They sold these devices directly to consumers, with early models retailing for around $500-$600. Recon Instruments' first commercial product launched in October 2010, predating Google Glass by about a year and a half. The technology delivered live activity metrics, GPS maps, and notifications directly to the user's eye. Their product line included the Snow2 for winter sports and the Recon Jet, a smart eyewear device for cycling and running. The Jet featured a dual-core processor, GPS, various sensors, and could connect to smartphones and other fitness monitors. Beyond the consumer sports market, Recon partnered with enterprise software firms like SAP and APX Labs to adapt its technology for industrial applications in sectors such as manufacturing and law enforcement.

The founders' backgrounds were integral to the company's development. Dan Eisenhardt, a former competitive swimmer and engineer, served as CEO. His initial concept for swim-specific HUDs eventually led to the creation of his subsequent company, FORM. Hamid Abdollahi, the CTO, had a background in engineering with expertise in design, sensors, and robotics. The company secured significant investments, including a $10 million Series A round in 2012 and funding from Intel Capital and Motorola Solutions in subsequent years. This trajectory culminated in its acquisition by Intel in June 2015. After the acquisition, Recon Instruments operated as an Intel company, aiming to leverage Intel's resources to expand into broader markets. However, Intel shuttered the Recon division in the summer of 2017, discontinuing all products. Keywords: heads-up display, wearable technology, smartglasses, sports technology, athlete data, cycling computer, ski goggles, augmented reality, GPS tracking, wearable sensors