When a DIY Maker Built Better AR Glasses Than Big Tech (In Just 2 Hours)
Blog post description.
11/3/20257 min read
When a DIY Maker Built Better AR Glasses Than Big Tech (In Just 2 Hours)
TECH | JBoe | [Date] | 8 min read
I was scrolling through YouTube the other day (probably when I should have been doing something more productive), and I stumbled upon a video that absolutely blew my mind. It's called "I Built The World's First Customizable HUD Glasses" by Steven Sullivan, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since.
This guy literally built a real-life video game HUD (Heads-Up Display) that you can wear as glasses. We're talking health bars, mini-maps, quest logs, dynamic compasses - the whole RPG experience overlaid onto reality. And here's the kicker: he built the most impressive version in just 2 hours.
I wanted to share this project with you because it perfectly embodies what I love about the maker community and why I started this Digital Garden in the first place. It's a story about creativity, determination, and proving that you don't need a massive budget or a team of engineers to build something extraordinary.
The Vision: Real-Life Video Game HUD
Imagine walking around your neighborhood and seeing:
Your health bar filling up as you take steps throughout the day
A mini-map in the corner showing your surroundings
The weather, time, and season displayed like a game interface
A quest log tracking your daily tasks
A compass that rotates as you turn your head
That's exactly what Steven created. And before you ask - no, this isn't some concept video with fake overlays. This is a fully functional system that actually works.
The Journey: Two Versions, One Amazing Outcome
HUD Glasses 1.0: The Clever Hack
Steven's journey started with a pair of XR display glasses (the kind that project a large virtual screen). His first version was brilliantly simple - instead of building custom hardware, he hacked existing iPhone features:
Voice Control: He used iPhone's accessibility settings (designed for people who can't physically touch their phones) to control everything with voice commands. Open apps, navigate maps, switch between screens - all without touching the device.
The Widget Page: You know that infinite-scrolling page on your iPhone when you swipe all the way left? Steven turned it into a makeshift HUD by loading it up with widgets:
Quest log/to-do list apps
Health stat trackers
Mini-map widgets
Activity tracking
The demo in his video is genuinely impressive. He walks around navigating with Google Maps, tracks his steps, talks to Gemini AI, and even watches YouTube videos - all with his phone in his pocket, controlled entirely by voice, displayed in glasses floating in his field of vision.
But here's the thing: While functional, it didn't look like a real HUD. It was essentially a floating iPhone screen in the corner of his vision, not the transparent, immersive overlay you see in games like Fallout or Skyrim.
HUD Glasses 2.0: The Game-Changer
A month after creating version 1.0, Steven woke up one day and decided he could do better. He wanted:
Transparent elements you could see straight through
All the HUD elements from real video games (not just the 2-3 that commercial AR glasses offer)
Full customizability
That authentic video game feel
So he decided to build a custom iOS app from scratch.
Now, this is where most stories would involve weeks of coding, countless bugs, and frustrated troubleshooting. Steven even mentions in the video that he wished he could say it was this dramatic struggle that explains why big tech companies haven't done this yet.
The reality? It took him 2 hours. From 3 PM to 5 PM on a single day. The timestamps are visible in the video.
The Technical Magic (Explained Simply)
Here's how Steven built HUD Glasses 2.0, broken down for those of us who aren't iOS developers:
1. Transparent Camera Feed
Instead of trying to create actual transparent displays (expensive and limited), he used the iPhone's camera with maximum field of view. The app constantly shows the live camera feed, creating the illusion of transparency.
2. Dynamic Compass
Just like in Fallout, there's a compass at the bottom that rotates as you turn. It uses the iPhone's orientation sensors to track which direction you're facing in real-time.
3. Health Bar (HP)
This is where it gets really cool. The health bar is tied to your step count, which syncs automatically from the iPhone Health app. As you walk throughout the day, your health bar fills up. It even changes colors:
Red when you're low on steps
Yellow as you progress
Green when you're doing well
Purple when you max out your daily goal
4. Water Tracking Bar
A blue bar below the health (looks like a magic/mana bar) tracks water intake. Tap it or use a voice command each time you drink a glass of water (goal: 8 glasses per day).
5. Environmental Info
The top right displays:
Current temperature
Weather icon
Date and day of the week
Current season (because knowing it's autumn reminds you of all the cool seasonal activities)
6. Mini-Map
This was one of the trickiest parts. The mini-map:
Is circular (like real video game maps)
Rotates with you as you change direction
Is zoomed in appropriately for walking (not driving)
Shows your exact location in real-time
7. Quest System
Tap or use voice commands to mark daily tasks as complete, just like finishing quests in an RPG.
8. Transparency Toggle
You can switch between having background contrast (for bright outdoor visibility) and fully transparent HUD elements for maximum immersion.
The Hardware: More Affordable Than You Think
One of the best parts? Steven used $250 XREAL Air glasses for version 2.0 (half the price of what he used for version 1.0). These aren't specialized AR glasses - they're just display glasses that project a large virtual screen. You can find them on Amazon.
The magic isn't in the glasses themselves. The glasses are simply a heads-up screen. All the processing, GPS tracking, health monitoring, and app logic happens on the iPhone. The glasses just display what the phone is showing.
This means the project is potentially reproducible for anyone with:
An iPhone
Display glasses (XREAL or similar)
Steven's app (if he ever releases it)
Why This Matters (And Why I'm Writing About It)
As someone who loves tinkering with tech and exploring what's possible with limited resources (hello, homelab adventures!), this project resonates with me on multiple levels:
1. Big Tech Isn't Always Best
Steven makes a great point in the video: Why do expensive AR glasses from major companies only give you 2-3 basic HUD elements? Why no mini-map? Why so limited? He built something more feature-rich in 2 hours than what companies charge hundreds or thousands of dollars for.
2. Creative Problem-Solving > Big Budgets
Instead of waiting for the "perfect" AR technology or buying expensive equipment, Steven used what was already available. He combined:
Existing iPhone features (accessibility, health app, GPS)
Affordable display glasses
Custom app development
Creative thinking
3. "Anything Is Possible"
Steven ends his video with this message: "This is proof that anything is possible. You ever get an idea, there's a way to do it. It's not impossible. If you think it's impossible, you're lying to yourself."
As someone who's trying to balance family life, a full-time job, and tech hobbies, this is the kind of inspiration I need. You don't need weeks of free time or unlimited resources. Sometimes you just need 2 hours and determination.
4. Gamification Done Right
There's something powerful about turning daily health goals (steps, water intake) into game mechanics. It makes mundane activities feel purposeful and fun. The fact that you can literally see your health bar increasing as you walk around? That's motivating in a way that checking an app later never is.
The Best Part: His Genuine Reaction
One of my favorite moments in the video is when Steven first tests the completed HUD 2.0 with the glasses. His reaction is pure, unfiltered excitement:
"No freaking way, man... What? Yo, how did I make this in two hours?... I literally don't want to take these off... This is the craziest thing I've ever invented in my entire life."
You can hear the disbelief and joy in his voice. This is what making and creating should feel like - that moment when your idea becomes real and exceeds even your own expectations.
And yes, he literally does a backflip at the end while wearing the glasses to celebrate. Because why not?
Practical Applications (Beyond Looking Cool)
While the novelty factor is high, there are genuinely practical uses for this:
Fitness Motivation: Gamifying your daily step goal makes it more engaging
Hands-Free Navigation: Perfect for walking or biking without pulling out your phone
Task Management: Visual reminders of your daily quests/to-dos
Content Creation: The HUD is visible when recording, making it great for POV videos
Productivity: Access information and controls without breaking focus from what you're doing
Accessibility: The voice control makes smartphone features accessible without touching the device
The Questions This Raises
Of course, there are practical considerations:
Battery life: Running constant camera feed, GPS, and health tracking will drain the battery
Safety: Walking around with limited peripheral awareness could be dangerous
Social acceptance: Wearing display glasses in public still looks unusual to most people
App Store approval: Will Apple allow an app like this if Steven ever releases it publicly?
But these are the kinds of challenges that make tinkering fun. Every limitation is just another problem to solve.
What You Can Do
Obviously, we can't all download Steven's app right now (he built it for himself), but here's what this project inspires me to think about:
What existing tools can you combine creatively? You probably have more capability in your pocket right now than you realize.
What would your perfect HUD look like? What information would you want displayed? What would motivate you?
What "impossible" project have you been putting off? Maybe it's not as impossible as you think.
For my own homelab and tech experiments, this reminds me that I don't need enterprise-grade equipment or unlimited time. Sometimes the best projects come from saying "what if I just tried this?" and giving yourself an afternoon to see what happens.
Final Thoughts
I love finding projects like this because they remind me why I started this Digital Garden in the first place. Technology isn't just about consuming products - it's about creating, experimenting, and pushing boundaries.
Steven Sullivan's HUD Glasses project is a masterclass in creative problem-solving, accessible innovation, and the power of just trying something. I highly recommend watching his full video - it's 16 minutes of pure inspiration.
And who knows? Maybe someday we'll all be walking around with customized HUDs, turning our daily lives into an RPG. I know I'd love to see my health bar fill up every time I take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Until then, I'll be here in my Digital Garden, tinkering with my homelab and dreaming up my next project.
What do you think? Would you want HUD glasses like this? What elements would you add to your perfect real-life HUD? Drop a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts!
And if you create something inspired by this project (or any other "impossible" idea), please share it with the community. That's what this space is all about.
See you in the next post!
-Jameson
Resources:
XREAL Air Glasses (available on Amazon - search "XREAL Air AR Glasses")
Tags: #AR #DIY #Innovation #iOS #Wearables #Gamification #MakerCulture