Google kicked off a contest Wednesday Feb. 20 that offers interested consumers a chance to try on its new, augmented-reality "glasses."
As part of the contest announcement, Google also revealed a new Google Glass website featuring an austere design with three sections: "How It Feels," "What It Does" and "How To Get One."
The first section features a point-of-view video showing dozens of people wearing the glasses. The second section delves more specifically into how exactly Google Glass works and demonstrates its features, including voice recognition, hands-free recording, photo and video capture, search and translation, on-the-spot shareability and useful tools, such as directions. For the first time we also see the available colors for the glasses, including Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton and Sky.
The last section of the website gives an overview of the contest application process. Using Google+ or Twitter and the hashtag #ifihadglass, applicants must explain what they would do with Google Glass if they owned the product. The application must be 50 words or less and can include up to five photos as well as a short video. The site also suggests applicants follow Glass on Google+ (+ProjectGlass) and Twitter (@projectglass).
Feb. 27 is the deadline to enter. Winning applicants will receive an invitation to become a Glass Explorer. Explorers will then get to pick up a Glass Explorer Edition for $1,500 plus tax and also attend a "pick-up experience" in New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles, according to the Glass website.
Until today's announcement only Google employees and developers have been able to use the glasses. In an email to Mashable, a spokesperson from Google explained why it's broadening access to the product, saying the company wishes to extend it to a "diverse group, with people from all sorts of backgrounds, hobbies, jobs and lifestyles."
