Chris Parkinson

About Chris Parkinson

Dr. Chris Parkinson is an enterprise strategist, and inventor focused on building trusted, scalable vision systems for real‑world deployment.He is the founder of Optaric, a new venture advancing durable, enterprise‑grade vision platforms designed for adoption at scale across industrial and regulated environments. Optaric builds on decades of experience converting deep technology - spanning optics, hardware, and software - into products that frontline workers rely on daily.Dr. Parkinson is best known as the founder of RealWear Inc, where he led the company from inception to global leadership in industrial augmented reality. Under his leadership, RealWear became the most widely deployed wearable computing platform for frontline workers worldwide. RealWear redefined how industries engage with hands‑free computing, remote expertise, and digital workflows.Previously, he served as President, Enterprise Solutions at Vuzix (NASDAQ: VUZI), driving enterprise product strategy, global channel expansion, and customer adoption across logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and field service. This work helped shape a pragmatic, deployment‑driven approach to wave-guide based smart glasses that continues to inform his ventures.Dr. Parkinson is an inventor on 110+ granted or pending patents spanning wearable computing, optics, modular platforms, and enterprise systems. He holds a PhD in Computational Chemistry and Molecular Visualization from the University of Manchester, UK, and has called Washington State home since 1996.Through Optaric, Dr. Parkinson is focused on the next chapter of enterprise vision technology - systems that earn adoption through utility, safety, and trust.SpecialtiesWearable Computing · Vision & Optics · Modular Platform Architecture · Enterprise Systems · AI‑Ready Hardware · Strategic Partnerships · Governance & Equity Design · Android‑Based Systems · Leadership

Experience

1. Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer at Optaric Inc

   Optaric

   Apr 2026 — Present · Richland, WA, US

   Dr. Chris Parkinson serves as CEO of Optaric, responsible for defining the company’s product vision and translating it into deployable, industrial‑grade smart glasses. He leads product strategy, hardware architecture, and optical direction, ensuring every design decision is grounded in real frontline requirements.Dr. Parkinson also oversees hardware engineering execution and manufacturing strategy, with a focus on scalability, supply‑chain resilience, and safety‑certified production. His role bridges customer needs, engineering reality, and long‑term platform strategy - aligning Optaric’s technology roadmap with measurable enterprise ROI.

Education

• The University of Manchester

  PhD, Molecular Visualization

  1992 — 1995

• The University of Manchester

  BSc (Hons), Chemistry

  1988 — 1991

Skills

• Software Engineering
• Sensors
• Hardware
• Firmware
• Rfid+
• Semiconductors
• Embedded Systems
• R&D
• Electronics
• Product Development
• Product Management
• Engineering Management
• Mobile Applications
• Optics
• Project Management
• Wireless
• Engineering
• Visual Basic
• Start-Ups
• Rf
• Artificial Intelligence
• Product Innovation
• Software Development
• Mobile Devices
• Robotics
• Digital Signal Processors
• Manufacturing
• Asic
• Semiconductor Industry
• Wireless Technologies
• Research and Development (R&D)