GOOGLE GLASS
Google Glass is a wearable
computer with an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) that is being developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project, with a mission of producing a
mass-market ubiquitous computer. Google Glass display information in a smartphone-like
hands-free format, that can
communicate with the Internet vianatural language voice commands.
While the frames do not currently have
lenses fitted to them, Google is considering partnerships 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, 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 product manager and
"geolocation specialist"; and Sebastian
Thrun, who developed Udacity as well as worked on the autonomous car project. Google has patented the design of
Project Glass. Thad Starner, an augmented
reality expert, is a
technical lead/manager on the project.
