With smartphones and tablets firmly embedded in mainstream culture, where will the fast-moving world of technology focus its attention next? According to two of its biggest players – Apple and Google – the future is in wearable computing. Apple is reportedly developing a smartwatch, while Google has been upfront about its smart-glasses, Google Glass. But what’s it like to actually wear a pair of smart-glasses?
That was previously a mystery to anyone who hadn’t signed a blood-oath to Mountain View. But today, in a video released on Google’s Glass site, we get a new first-person glimpse of the product – that video can be seen at the bottom of this page.
Sneak peek
Can Google Glass be the next big thing? Judging by this video, it may have a shot. The glasses are voice-controlled, with the phrase “Okay, Glass” activating services like video chat, navigation, photography, social feeds, or search-powered Q&A.;
The interface looks polished and natural enough to forecast a future where wearable computers replace smartphones as our primary on-the-go devices.
Google’s biggest challenge in delivering Glass to the consumer market will be how you look while wearing them. The company has made Glass' design as elegant as a computer on your face can possibly be. But – as much as geeks will be salivating over them – “regular” customers may still hesitate to look like a distant cousin of Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Waiting game
You can check out Google’s full video below. Select developers already have prerelease units, while everyone else can enter at the source link for a chance to become a Google Glass "Explorer" (for US$1,500). Glass won't likely hit the market until 2014.
Source: Google Glass via 9to5Google
Whilst we're not at that level yet, it looks like we are well on the way
Besides, if you can buy prescription Oakley's you could probably do the same with these. The benefit would be that if you have insurance they will cover some of the costs of picking up a pair.
I don't do this but the people I know who can afford Oakley's can do so for that reason.
The second will be looks;
The third battery life;
The fourth will be the way you interact with the interface, it may not always be socially appropriate to be giving commands to something other people can't see, they might think you need psychiatric help. A small wireless hand controller may help in the short term and an interface controlled by your eye movement could come later on.
Sounds like you're talking about her system in the Final Fantasy movie, we just need the holographic controls
Quite a few people still wear glasses. Many can't tolerate contacts. Lots of people don't want to risk the often irreversible complications of laser surgery. Neither correction can compensate for presbyopia, which afflicts the vast majority of people over 45 or so.