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New GEAR & tECHNOLOGY: A closer look at SWAROVSKI OPTIK's AX Visio - The world's FIRST SMART BINOCULARS FOR WILDLIFE WATCHERS

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1 April 2024
Sponsored Feature By Alex James

​2024 will be a landmark year for SWAROVSKI OPTIK - who will celebrate their 75th anniversary. The Austrian optical pioneer is marking the event in style, with the launch of the world’s first AI-supported binoculars - AX Visio.

At the touch of a button, the AX Visio will assist with the identification of birds and other creatures, allow discoveries to be shared via social media, and offer a wide range of practical extra functions. The world-famous industrial designer Marc Newson is responsible for the design. With these binoculars, SWAROVSKI OPTIK is introducing the future of nature observation.

Stefan Schwarz, CEO of SWAROVSKI OPTIK explained:
“In the seven decades of our existence, we have developed a deep understanding of our consumers’ requirements in the hunting, birdwatching, and outdoor target groups. We leverage our know-how and cutting-edge production technologies to offer optimum technological solutions for each area of application. The integration of digital components and functions in our products brings significant added value.”
 
The AX Visio 10x32 adds new dimensions to natural experiences with numerous functions: intelligent technology combined with high-precision analog optics in SWAROVISION quality assist with real-time identification of more than 9,000 birds and other wildlife.

The integrated camera captures photos and videos. These can then be immediately managed and shared with a connected smartphone using the associated SWAROVSKI OPTIK Outdoor App. The “Share discoveries” function is another exciting development that allows users to guide another person to the observed object using arrow markers in the display.
 
Smart and sustainable 
Around five years have been invested in the development and construction of the AX Visio. The result is binoculars consisting of approximately 390 hardware parts. The intelligent core of the AX Visio is its integrated operating and object-recognition system. A Neural Processing Unit (NPU) ensures exceptionally fast processing of relevant information for object recognition. The SWAROVSKI OPTIK Outdoor App allows users to manage and share images. All device settings and future updates are also carried out in the app. The AX Visio concept ensures a product life cycle for the device over many years. “The analog components of the device, such as the optics and housing, comply with our sustainable SWAROVSKI OPTIK quality standards. The performance of the digital features is regularly updated and enhanced through regular system and function updates. An open programming interface gives creative external providers the opportunity to expand the AX Visio with new functionalities. Our aim is to promote an innovative system that continuously develops and meets users’ needs for enhanced vision and more information as effectively as possible”, continued Andreas Gerk.

The company have bought 285 acres (115 ha) of rainforest on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, called (unsurprisingly) the SWAROVSKI OPTIK rainforest. Far from a marketing stunt, this hands-on conservation project should be applauded by everyone as SWAROVSKI OPTIK takes on responsibility in the face of the biodiversity crisis facing the planet. In total, Osa is home to 463 species of birds, 140 species of mammals and an astonishing 10,000 species of insects. The flora is no less astonishing: More than 700 species of trees grow in this small area. 2-3 percent of Osa’s flora is nowhere else to be found on earth. And through SWAROVSKI's help, species such as Spider Monkey, Ocelot and Puma will hopefully thrive in the area.
 
Made in Austria 
The AX Visio is produced with a very high degree of vertical integration at SWAROVSKI OPTIK's main site in Absam, Austria. For CEO Stefan Schwarz, this is an important USP: "We can draw on 75 years of experience and expertise in the development and production of high-precision sport optics. We combine this know-how and our expertise in the field of electronics with digital intelligence at our production site in the heart of Europe to create a new, pioneering product. The AX Visio is not only a flagship project with which we are demonstrating SWAROVSKI OPTIK's technological leadership in the sport optics market, but it also marks the beginning of a new technological era for us."

Austria is also home to the first SWAROVSKI OPTIK Store, in Wattens, and is built to very high environmental standards using a clay wall, stones from a nearby quarry, a striking tree rootstock to bring the natural world inside, while the large glass frontage creates a seamless transition to the outdoor environment and opens up amazing views. The roof of the new SWAROVSKI OPTIK Store is covered with lush greenery consisting of local plants such as ivy, wild grapevine, hops, and grasses. Impressive stuff!
 
Design by Marc Newson  
The distinctive design for the AX Visio binoculars was created by Marc Newson, a world-famous industrial designer, in collaboration with SWAROVSKI OPTIK. His key priorities included ensuring a modern appearance and intuitive handling for the smart binoculars, combined with an ergonomic design that feels comfortable to hold. Following on from the CL Curio, the AX Visio are now the second SWAROVSKI OPTIK binoculars to owe their perfect form to the Australian-born designer. 

The AX Visio are now available from selected retailers and online.

📦 Buy now: www.swarovskioptik.com
🏷 Price: £3,820.00

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