Google finally detailed its futuristic Project Glass - eyewear that can live-stream images and audio, as well as perform various computing tasks. The company expects to roll out a consumer version of the electronic headgear in less than two years, but there is no price tag yet for the "smart" glasses.
The technology is known as Google Glass, and according to Google co-founder Sergey Brin the consumer version will have a "significantly" lower price than the current $1,500 price tag for U.S.-based developers attending the Google I/O developer conference. Developers can get their Google Glass gadgets from early next year.
Brin showed off the futuristic headgear at the company's annual Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, June 27. In a lengthy demonstration, Brin provided the most in-depth public look at the technology since Google first announced Project Glass back in April.
Google Glass consists of a pair of eyeglasses frames with a small, stamp-sized electronic screen mounted on the left side. The eyewear can record video, access email and messages, retrieve information from the Web, and basically any other function a smartphone can perform.
In an exciting demonstration of the innovative technology, several skydivers equipped with the glasses jumped out of an airship and landed on the roof of the Moscone Center in San Francisco, where the conference takes place. The glasses shared a live stream of the stunt with the conference attendees.
Brin offered his personal pair of glasses to reporters lined up at a briefing after the conference, allowing them to watch a video of fireworks streamed on the small screen. As wearers moved their heads to look up, sideways, or down, the perspective in the video shifted as well.
According to Google executives, the futuristic glasses weigh less than some normal sunglasses, and contain a wireless networking chip, as well as virtually all the technology packed within a typical smartphone. The glasses do not, however, feature cellular network radio. The battery is smaller than a typical smartphone battery and lasts less on a single charge, but Google is working on ways to make it last for a full day. The glasses should be available to consumers in less than a year after the developer version rolls out, said Brin.
The glasses are not in their final version, as Google is still experimenting with various aspects. Potential functions that Google is considering include the ability to have the glasses read text messages to users, or providing directions on the small screen mounted on the side. In response to a question, Brin said the company has no intention of offering advertising on the device.
