OPHSSSSSSS!
When
Google Glass was unveiled, the tech world instantly fell into two camps. Camp
one was excited: we're living in the sci-fi future! Camp two, though, wasn't so
happy. It's vapourware! some said, while others worried that Google just wanted
to plaster ads on the entire world. Is either camp correct? Let's find out.
Google’s
Project Glass whats up dude-
Google
Glass is the attempt to
make wearable computing mainstream, and it's effectively a smart pair of
glasses with an integrated heads-up display and a battery hidden inside the
frame.
Wearable computing is not
a new idea, but Google's enormous bank account and can-do attitude means that
Project Glass could well be the first product to do significant numbers.
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| JUST ASK GLASS REPLIES |
Releasing
date dude-
Originally
Project Glass was mooted for a public release
in 2014 at the earliest but the latest news on the Google
Glass release date suggest it's beginning to look like we could seeconsumer units
by the end of 2013.
That's because the
prototype Explorer units are becoming an increasingly common site around San
Francisco - and Google is even allowing
competition 'winners' to pay $1,500 to get these early
offerings.
Behind
google glass-
The
core of Google Glass is its tiny prism display which sits not in your eyeline,
but a little above it. You can see what is on the display by glancing up. The
glasses also have an embedded camera, microphone, GPS and, reportedly, use bone
induction to give you sound.
Voice control is used to
control the device; you say 'ok glass' to get a range of options including
taking pictures, videos, send messages using speech to text, 'hang out' with
people or get directions to somewhere. You access these options by saying them
out loud.
Most of this
functionality is self explanatory; hang out is Google's video conferencing
technology and allows you to talk to a people over web cam, and stream them
what you are seeing and the directions use Google Maps and the inbuilt GPS to
help you find your way.
The results are displayed
on the prism - essentially putting data into your view like a head up display
(HUD). It's potentially incredibly handy.
People are already
developing some rather cool/scary apps for Google Glass - including one that
allows you to identify your
friends in a crowd, and another that allows you to
dictate an email.
Google
Glass Techwiz
An FCC filing in the US revealed
many potential details, suggesting that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth would be used to
send pictures to the screen, whilst bone-induction may be used for sound,
vibrating your skull to communicate the sound into your inner ear. It's not a
new technology, but certainly does have critics who suggest that it falls short
of traditional headphones.
We don't have a lot of
the final details on specs just yet - but expect Google Glass to run modified
Android, to sport a decent resolution camera with a decent lens and we'd be
fairly certain that the microphone needs to be a good quality.
There will be a GPS chip,
and the lightweight and flexible glasses design will come in five colours -
Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton, Sky. That's black, orange, grey, white and
blue for anyone that prefers plain English over marketing speak.
Could
use along with normal spec
Yes.
Google is experimenting with designs that will fit over existing glasses so you
don't have to wear two lots of specs.
In fact, you should be
able to get them before
2013 ends, according to Google.
Google
Project Glass price dude-
The
NYT again: according to "several Google employees familiar with the
project who asked not to be named," the glasses are expected "to cost
around the price of current smartphones." So that's around $750/£500,
then, possibly with the help of a hefty Google subsidy.
The latest hints
definitely suggest a price that will make them attractive to technophiles.
The developer versions -
traditionally more expensive that the final consumer units - were made
available for pre-order for $1,500 (c£966).
As to WHERE you can buy
the specs; online will be a certainty, but don't rule out Glass making a debut
in a all-new Google Store, with the search giant apparently considering actual
shops to showcase the tech to those who haven't been following every
development.
Does
Google intrude to privacy-
It
could be. Google's business is about making money from advertising, and some
people worry that Google Glass is its attempt to monetise your eyeballs by
blasting you with ads whenever you look at something.
If you think pop-ups are
annoying in a web browser, imagine them in front of your face. The ADmented Reality spoof
is one of very many parodies that
made us laugh.
Some of the parodies
actually make a good point by showing people bumping into stuff: heads-up
displays can be distracting, and there may be safety issues too. Until Google
ships its self-driving car, the thought of drivers being distracted by their
glasses is fairly terrifying.
There are privacy
implications too. Never mind your web history: Google Glass might record everything
you see and do.
There is a red recording
light, but the tech certainly raises some key debates that will become more
relevant as this kind of technology surfaces. What are the repercussions from
having everything you say potentially taped, turned into text and searchable?
What are the repercussions for free speech.
All radically new tech
brings new potential for evil. But you have to weigh that against the capacity
for good and the progress it brings
