Terminator glasses
We detailed the first information about the Google [x] Glasses project in December.
They are in late prototype stages of wearable glasses that look similar to thick-rimmed glasses that “normal people” wear. However, these provide a display with a heads up computer interface. There are a few buttons on the arms of the glasses, but otherwise, they could be mistaken for normal glasses. Additionally, we are not sure of the technology being employed here, but it is likely a transparent LCD or AMOLED display such as the one demonstrated below:
In addition, we have heard that this device is not an “Android peripheral” as the NYT stated. According to our source, it communicates directly with the Cloud over IP. Although, the “Google Goggles” could use a phone’s Internet connection, through Wi-Fi or a low power Bluetooth 4.0.
The use-case is augmented reality that would tie into Google’s location services. A user can walk around with information popping up and into display -Terminator-style- based on preferences, location and Google’s information.
Therefore, these things likely connect to the Internet and have GPS. They also likely run a version of Android.
Since then, we have learned much more regarding Google’s glasses…
Our tipster has now seen a prototype and said it looks something like Oakley Thumps (below). These glasses, we heard, have a front-facing camera used to gather information and could aid in augmented reality apps. It will also take pictures. The spied prototype has a flash —perhaps for help at night, or maybe it is just a way to take better photos. The camera is extremely small and likely only a few megapixels.
(Oakleys)
The heads up display (HUD) is only for one eye and on the side. It is not transparent nor does it have dual 3D configurations, as previously speculated.
One really cool bit: The navigation system currently used is a head tilting-to scroll and click. We are told it is very quick to learn and once the user is adept at navigation, it becomes second nature and almost indistinguishable to outside users.
(As an aside, I built a head mouse as a Masters Thesis project a few years back that used head tilts to navigate and control menus. I am ready to collect royalties!)
I/O on the glasses will also include voice input and output, and we are told the CPU/RAM/storage hardware is near the equivalent of a generation-old Android smartphone. As a guess, we would speculate something like 1GHz ARM A8, 256MB RAM and 8GB of storage? In any case, it will also function as a smartphone.
Perhaps most interesting is that Google is currently deciding on how it wants to release these glasses, even though the product is still a very long way from being finished. It is currently a secret with only a few geeky types knowing about it, and Google is apparently unsure if it will have mass-market appeal. Therefore, the company is considering making this a pilot program, somewhat like the Cr-48 Chromebooks last year.
Yes, Google might actually release this product as beta-pilot program to people outside of Google—and soon.
FYI Motorola’s got something cool in this area brewing as well (thanks commenter!).
Related articles
- Google X’s wearable technology isn’t an iPod Nano, but rather a heads up display (glasses) (9to5google.com)
- Google testing mysterious “entertainment device”, is it Google’s glasses? (9to5google.com)
- Google X is actually Google [x] (as in “solve for X”) and there is a We Solve for [x] Conference happening now #solveforx (9to5google.com)
- Google poaches Apple’s Senior Director of Product Integrity for secret project, maybe to work on Google X? (9to5mac.com)
- Google poaches Apple’s Senior Director of Product Integrity for secret project, maybe to work on Google X? (9to5google.com)
- NYT: Apple’s been “conceptualizing and even prototyping some wearable devices” (9to5mac.com)
- Google releases updates for Google Maps, Goggles and Listen apps (9to5google.com)
It's something like http://armdevices.net/2012/01/14/motorola-kopin-g… more compact so it covers just one side of your face, does not need to be glasses but can be integrated with glasses if you want. A bit bigger than a bluetooth headset the monocular headmounted display is retractable, 800×600 or higher resolution. You use it as a dashboard for your life, it's below your eye so you can still look out and see everything as normal, just glance down to the headmounted display for the information overlayed.
I'm sure they also have a 24 hour
infomercial that google beats to death with the google buzz.
wow………its …………..awesome
Google Goggles. Awesome!
Motorola version is running Windows CE, which means it's an awesome Google product!
I would luv to beta test this!
Oh my dear God, give me a pair right now!!!
A pair of monocle?
Also could incorporate infrared front facing camera so that you can see in the dark without utilizing visible light……just saying..:-)
i also would like to do beta test…And When its released?….How Can I get This?…What's The price of the product? Please let me know to my mail id, Mr. Google
The first time I saw advertisement pop in front of my google goggles I'd throw them off a cliff. Otherwise I'd love to have these!
Just what this world needs: people walking around, even more distracted and "multi-tasking."
This is a valid point that you have made. Imagine someone using these as they drive and get too distracted and end up causing accidents.
I want i want i want i wan i want. This is the start of the future tech I've been dreaming of since my first smartphone. This video is where I see this going. http://youtu.be/3TL80ScTLlM
I would buy a beta version now. So awesome.
I want!
GoPro Camera + calling your mum while base jumping. A dream come true. Thank you Google!!
And then you lose your $600 glasses during the recoil.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAFuNzHQZqU
I was a finalist in the Microsoft Imagine Cup with this project in 2009, just before the 6th Sense came out. Ironically, it is called the 7th Sense.The Google Glasses project is very similar to mine! http://www.facebook.com/The7thSense
I was thinking about an application of this type of wearable AR last week.
It won't be long after their release and very exciting uses will emerge…
Yes please.
Breaking news… number of pedestrian walking under cars & busses accidents triples, following launch of Google glasses!!!
And you thought people looked stupid with one of those bluetooth things in their ear!..
Google never stops innovating. This company never runs out of new ideas. The glass looks cool and sporty. Many would love to try it out.
Also this technology ( http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/07/vuzix-smart-gl… ) is one I'm personally looking forward to, as it would have so many uses – combined with this technology that can be seen in the second video, i would assume this would come to be a great service to our digital age, and bring about a new era of mobile technology.
I want to be a "pilot" .. just shoot an email as to where to pick it up!
@ Mark W. The google goggles might be free and you know why already…
I can't wait to have ad's while I'm taking a stroll outside… :::rolls eyes:::
@ Mark W. The google goggles might be free and you know why already…
sounds awesome i want a pair, but i know ill never be able to afford them probably
Man.. these could be pretty slick. I could imagine being out for a jog or something and have my caller ID popping up to let me know who is calling and answer calls. Or riding the motorcycle and needing some turn by turn navigation all right there.. hands free!!
I'd love to Beta these.
I think this will be the future a real world with a virtual world mixed.
Google when can we test this ?
One interesting point raised that I saw in another article.. will the lenses themselves be tinted? This could potentially prove to be non-user friendly when using them indoors.
Speaking for all the baby boomers who are having an increasingly hard time reading the type on our smartphones, this can't come quickly enough!
Where can I buy shares in this company?
I want to hook it up to my belt buckle pistol for better aim.
not a deaf friendly product. this is totally crap.
My company, AssistMeLive, has a platform that leverages technology like these Glassed or Looxcie.com streaming mobile webcam (as wells as other real-time communication tools) to benefit those who need or can benefit from live assistance. The goal is to provide easy access to remotely located assistants who can provide instantly help others for as little as a few mins and up to a few hours. Ex. Deaf (custom Video Remote Interpreting services), blind (video guides), autistic (video assistants) or even "do-it yourself" who could use expert assistance during home repair projects . Let me know if you might be interested in being part of our private beta that's launching in the next two weeks. I'd be stoked to get your feedback. Thanks.
Google goggles or the Eye Phone?
These will not sell if there are one or a few styles. Glasses are 100% tied to personal style. They would have to license the tech to individual glasses designers and manufacturers
wonderful…just what we need: more idiots driving around in virtual reality and killing actual people. anyone caught wearing these while driving should be forced to have a cell-phone/wi-fi jamming implant. and then be sterilized.
me want
I would love to beta test them also. I remember reading recently about digital prescription glasses, and I wonder if marketing might have a better chance if they had dual functions, not only Internet/screen view, but also actual corrective lenses.
I want one, please???
That's so cool!
How could the world not want this? Google. Release it to the public. Don't halt progress. I could see this starting a whole new thing if you let it. Finish it and release it to the public.
will the images projected in 3d? then you can play in a simulated doom scenery with virtuals bots.
Optigrab.
Oh my god!!
I want this glasses..
The future is comming..!
Tilt head navigation?
Just don't sneeze.
the inward-facing camera is a secret. it will *know* when you roll your eyes to ads
and never mind the videodrome signal it will be directly sending to your retinas.
heh heh…
Read William Gibson's Virtual Light http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Light
It's over 9000 !!!! http://xspblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/900…
Google, give me please a pair of that magic glasses right now….this glasses will become a greatest gift from great company…
i really wish to test this magic glasses when they will become available… just send me a message please
i want to test this glasses …
this Gadget is so awesome, there's many genius and inovative people inside Google, can i say google = Nasa?
even may be they already build a spaceship inside google, Great Job
i wish to become a tester …give me a pair of glasses too
The Daemon Lives!
I predicted this over two years ago in a blog about augmented reality with eye tracking: http://thinkeyetracking.com/2010/01/apple-of-my-e… #PleasedWithMyself
I think this very strange
Jörg
how does your eye focus on information an inch away? hold up a piece of paper with writing on it to your eye — can you read it?
this is a hoax. google is not develping this product.
The goggles…..they do everything!
Des terminators enfin parmi nous
http://inf0mag.blogspot.com/2012/02/des-lunettes-…
I love this sentence from the description of Google's new wonder:
"There are a few buttons on the arms of the glasses, but otherwise, they could be mistaken for normal glasses."
Alright, Konami, time to make a D-Gazer out of this. I want my AR Yu-Gi-Oh within the year!
Imagine never having to wait to get into an event? For boarding or security? The bouncers/gatekeepers would just look over the crowd and already know who has tickets, who has VIP status, security clearance, etc. Could be live in 6-months.
yea no it aint happenin right now. The BEST affordable display glasses only do 800×600 and any higher res costs like 5 grand so unless they completely re-invented image technology production this is gonna be a huge gimmick. Power supply?!? Our current battery tech SUCKS so how heavy is that battery back hidden in the belt gonna be…lol no, not yet.
A step further:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGFG3PNw2WE
And also need forward-facing lasers to take out large military vehicles and telepaths.
This product is out of imagination can't believe google is into such a good product, if this project comes into existance im sure it would take our world into next generation, what an imagination and what an effort for this wonderful peoduct hats off to google. I got to know the srtucture of this google glass released from this sit "http://tech2wonder.com/google-glasses.html" im not sure whether the structure is perfect given by them..
So where does one signup or get information for beta-testing??
I smell fringe market
Have I got a keyboard for this? Please Vote if you think so! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBmb4heEsb4
Really great content and so inspiring me to read