Google Glass may be the big name in augmented reality right now, but before the Glass was Recon HUD. And if the Glass is aimed at the general market for everyday social uses - and currently up for grabs to 8,000 chosen people at $1,500 - Recon has created augmented reality glasses for sports.

In 2012, the company released the MOD Heads-up Display prototypes for skiing or snowboarding, reports SlashGear, for the price of $399.

The software included in the device, according to TheGadgeteer, includes a computer software called Recon HQ, used for sharing and analysing data and metrics. It's a free application that is compatible with Mac or PC.

There's also a mobile app available for Android smartphones so users can also enjoy other activities such as reading and replying SMS, controlling music, and to check out Google Maps.

Other features include calculating Speed via GPS and barometric pressure data, jump analytics, tracking the vertical feet metrics, altitude metrics, navigation, and buddy tracking.

Augmented reality cycling

And it doesn't stop there. DC RainMaker reports that Recon Instruments is getting ready to roll out HUDs that are aimed at cycling.

Considering what was done for the skiing goggles, the prototypes for cycling can have metrics for measurement. There can also be smartphone integration, which will not be a problem as it already has connectivity features for the skiing goggles.

DC RainMaker also reports that the cycling goggles should have the Bluetooth Smart support and ANT+, particularly since these two features are very much in demand in the segment that the goggles will be targeting.

Meet the creator: Li Chen

Instead of an entire team of experts crowding around to create the prototype, IEEE reports that the Recon prototype was almost entirely created by just one person.

That man is Li Chen, the first employee of Recon Instruments, and one who has already been in the works with the four founders of the company on the HUD glasses as early as his college days in 2008.

Two years after, Recon Instruments released their first product way back in 2010.