Google Glass

Google Glass is a wearable computer with a head-mounted display (HMD) that is being developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project, with the mission of producing a mass-market ubiquitous computer. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format that can interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands. While the frames do not currently have lenses fitted to them, Google is considering partnering with sunglass retailers such as Ray-Ban or Warby Parker, and may also open retail stores to allow customers to try on the device. The Explorer Edition cannot be used by people who wear prescription glasses, but Google has confirmed that Glass will eventually work with frames and lenses that match the wearer's prescription; the glasses will be modular and therefore possibly attachable to normal prescription glasses.

Glass is being developed by Google X Lab, which has worked on other futuristic technologies such as driverless cars. The project was announced on Google+ by Project Glass lead Babak Parviz, an electrical engineer who has also worked on putting displays into contact lenses; Steve Lee, a project manager and "geolocation specialist"; and Sebastian Thrun, who developed Udacity as well as worked on the self-driving car project. Google has patented the design of Project Glass. Thad Starner, an AR expert, is a technical lead/manager on the project.

Development

Though head-worn displays for augmented reality are not a new idea, the project has drawn media attention primarily due to its backing by Google, as well as the prototype design, which is smaller and slimmer than previous designs for head-mounted displays. The first Glass demo resembles a pair of normal eyeglasses where the lens is replaced by a head-up display. Around August 2011, a Glass prototype weighed 8 pounds; the device is now lighter than the average pair of sunglasses. In the future, new designs may allow integration of the display into people's normal eyewear.

According to several Google employees, the Glass was originally predicted to be available to the public for "around the cost of current smartphones" by the end of 2012, but other reports stated that the Glass was not expected to be available for purchase by then.

The Explorer Edition is available to testers and Google I/O developers in the United States for $1,500, to be delivered in early 2013, while a consumer version will be available by the end of 2013 for "significantly less" than the Explorer Edition.

The product began testing in April 2012. Sergey Brin wore a prototype of the Glass to an April 5, 2012 Foundation Fighting Blindness event in San Francisco. In May 2012, Glass was demonstrated in the first test video shot with the eyewear, demonstrating the 720p HD first-person video recording capabilities of the device. Sergey Brin demonstrated the Glass on The Gavin Newsom Show, and California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom also wore the Glass. On June 27, 2012, he also demonstrated the Glass at Google I/O where skydivers, abseilers, and mountain bikers wore the Glass and live streamed their point of view to a Google+ Hangout, which was also shown live at the Google I/O presentation. In February 2013, Google released a demo video showcasing the voice-augmented display of the Glass filming various experiences in first-person.

Google is currently working on models that can be used with prescription lenses. In a Google+ post, Google stated that it will not be ready for the Explorer Edition of Glass, however, consumers can expect it later in 2013.

Glass Explorer Program

An early adopter program named the Glass Explorer Program is available for developers and consumers to test Google Glass and gauge how people will want to use Glass. Entry into the Explorer Program was made available to the general public on February 20, 2013, and ended on February 27, 2013. The program stated that it was looking for "bold, creative individuals" who wanted to test the device. Those who wanted to apply were required to post a message on Google+ or Twitter consisting of 50 words or less, featuring the hashtag #ifihadglass. Those who were selected must attend a Google Glass event in either New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles to pick up the device. The Explorer Edition receives data through Wi-Fi, or it can tether via Bluetooth to an Android device or iPhone and use its 3G or 4G data; the Glass also has a GPS chip. The Explorer Edition is available in Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton, and Sky colors. Users issue voice commands by first saying "ok glass", then the command, or they can scroll through the options using a finger along the side of the device. The Explorer Edition has an interchangeable sunglasses accessory which twists on or off easily. Monthly updates to the Glass are planned after the program starts.

Features

Photography and video

Google Glass has the ability to take photos and record 720p HD video. While video is recording, a recording light is displayed above the eye, which is unnoticeable to the wearer.

Google applications

Glass will utilize many already-existing Google applications, such as Google Now and Google Maps. The device will also be able to display the weather.

Voice commands

Multiple features of Glass can be seen in a product video released in February 2013:

Feature	Voice activation text
Record video	"Ok, glass, record a video."
Take picture	"Ok, glass, take a picture."
Use Google Now	"Ok, glass, [question]."[34]
Start Google+ hangout	"Ok, glass, hang out with [person/circle]."
Search	"Ok, glass, Google [search query]."
Search photos	"Ok, glass, Google photos of [search query]."
Translate	"Ok, glass, say [text] in [language]."
Give directions	"Ok, glass, give directions to [place]."
Send message	"Ok, glass, send a message to [name]." "ok, glass, send [name] that [message]." "Ok, glass, send [message] to [name]."
Display weather	None/automatically (Google Now) "ok, glass, how the weather in [location] is?" "Ok, glass, do I need an umbrella today?"
Give flight details	None/automatically (Google Now) "ok, glass, when does flight [flight number] depart from [airport]?"

Reception

In general, reception for Google Glass has been positive in the technology industry. There have been parodies and criticisms aimed at the general notion of augmented reality glasses, ranging from the potential for Google to insert advertising (its main source of revenue) to more dystopian outcomes. However, Google has stated they have no plans to insert advertising.

The eyewear's functionality and minimalist appearance (aluminum strip with 2 nose pads) has been compared to Steve Mann's Eye Tap, also known as "Glass" or "Digital Eye Glass", although Google Glass is a "Generation-1 Glass" compared to Eye Tap, which is a "Generation-4 Glass". According to Mann, both devices affect both privacy and secrecy by introducing a two-sided surveillance and sousveillance.

Concerns have been raised by various sources regarding intrusion of privacy. Privacy advocates are concerned that people wearing such eyewear may be able to identify strangers in public using facial recognition, or surreptitiously record and broadcast private conversations, although privacy, in general, may not be guaranteed in public locations. Other concerns have been raised regarding legality of the Glass in a number of countries, particularly in Russia, Ukraine, and other post-USSR countries. In February 2013, a Google+ user noticed legal issues with Glass and posted in the Glass Explorers community about the issues, stating that the device may be illegal to use according to the current legislation in Russia and Ukraine.

Concerns have also been raised in regards to operating motor vehicles while wearing the eye wear. West Virginia state representative Rep. Gary G. Howell has introduced to legislation an amendment to the law against texting while driving to include bans against "using a wearable computer with head mounted display." In an interview, Howell stated "The primary thing is a safety concern, it (the glass headset) could project text or video into your field of vision. I think there's a lot of potential for distraction."

After a visit to the University of Cambridge by Google's chairman Eric Schmidt, Wolfson College professor John Naughton invoked the name of hardware and networking pioneer Douglas Engelbart in praise of Glass. Naughton wrote that Engelbart believed that machines "should do what machines do best, thereby freeing up humans to do what they do best".

At designer Diane von Fürstenberg's spring 2012 fashion at New York Fashion Week, models wore Glass down the runway, filming the audience.

In November 2012, Glass received recognition by Time Magazine as one of the "Best Inventions of the Year 2012", alongside inventions such as the Curiosity Rover.

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