At MWC Barcelona, OCR Studio intends to showcase an AI-based document recognition system intended for use with augmented reality glasses.

This technology, which has been introduced by the company, is capable of processing identification documents and machine-readable objects directly on smart glasses without necessitating internet access or external data transfer.

OCR Studio officials state that despite the typical limitations in processing power found in wearable devices, the system can operate entirely on-device. Unlike other smart glasses solutions that depend on cloud-based processing, this software performs recognition locally using compact neural network models. This is intended to minimize latency and reduce the exposure of sensitive data during document checks.

On-device ID recognition and regulatory considerations

The system supports identification documents from over 250 issuing authorities worldwide, including passports, identity cards, and driving licences. OCR Studio representatives claim that the technology can identify the document’s issuing country, estimate the holder’s age, and detect possible signs of alteration—functions commonly needed in know-your-customer processes for banking, fintech, and logistics sectors.

Local data processing is also presented as a means to comply with data protection regulations such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law, and China’s Personal Information Protection Law. During recognition, no personal information is transmitted off the device.

The AR glasses system leverages capabilities from OCR Studio’s existing products like OCR BANK-scan and OCR MRZ-scan. This enables it to read payment card details and extract data from the machine-readable zone of identification documents. It supports current ICAO Doc 9303 specifications as well as upcoming next-generation MRZ formats that will introduce additional document codes and are expected to be adopted internationally in the near future.