Google unveils ‘Project Glass’ augmented-reality glasses prototype
April 5, 2012
(Credit: Google)
In a post on Google Plus, Google X employees unveilved a prototype of the company’s “Project Glass” wrap-around augmented-reality glasses.
The glasses can superimpose information on the lenses and allow the wearer to send and receive messages via voice commands, similar to Siri.
A built-in camera can record video and take pictures.
“We’re sharing this information now because we want to start a conversation and learn from your valuable input,” the Google employees wrote. “Please follow along as we share some of our ideas and stories. We’d love to hear yours, too. What would you like to see from Project Glass?”
Also see:
Nick Bilton’s NY Times Bits blog (especially the comments)
Beyond texting: augmented-reality windshields — what could go wrong?
ADDED 4/9: REMIX WITH ADS BY JONATHAN MCINTOSH:
Comments (49)
by Diego
This sounds freaking awesome
by elizabeth
These are completely insane. What about brain cancer, vision distortion, loss of reality with physical surroundings?
by Carina
I think this is a good idea, because as one writter said here before, people would get used to it, but in other way, it would also cause a lot of accident’s because at first people would be really distracted with those…
In my opinion it would be better if they invented eyewear games, and they would sell them more, because people would see that games wouldn’t have the risks that those AR have…
by steve
when can i buy a pair
by Headbytes
Anyone remember the movie “The Jerk”? Navin (Steve Martin) invents the small device that helps you take your glasses off, but makes everyone go cross-eyed. Thanks Google, now we are all going to have a lazy eye from looking at the tiny screen all the time.
by elizabeth
I could not agree more. I love that movie and thought of it when I read about these silly tech glasses.
by Nahomy101
It’s a pretty good idea,but I think that’s gonna cause a lot of accidents if you’re using them while you’re walking and driving, because you’re going to be really distracted by all those notifications and such.
I honestly think this is unnecessary, you guys should do like gaming glasses, imagine the possibilities! I think that’ll sell more than those glasses…
by Arlindo Gusson
I liked his comment and I agree because I think these glasses cause much distraction and can be a hazard and cause many accidents. How eyewear game think it would be more fun and there was no risk.
by Ryan
look awsome
by Jabari Stegall
Also they could be little more fashionable.
by FuntCase
its a prototype, the fashion part is of minimal consequence right now. Once they get everything as they like in that phase then they can think about designs. And as time goes on new smaller tech arises or is developed which means the glasses will look more like glasses etc
by Jabari Stegall
Are you going to make perscription google googles for people who already wear glasses
by Evie
Just get contacts :)
by miss alicia uk
I love technology so much, we will certainly get used to it, and will have loads of fun with all this fancy gadgets during our short :( life. Let’s live it to the fullest full ! :D
by Marcos Marin
ADemented reality? hahahahahaha good one google, a typo away from hitting your head in the “glass” (or in the windshield)
by Editor
ADDED 4/9: VIDEO: REMIX WITH ADS BY JONATHAN MCINTOSH:
by steve
YIPPEE!!! whata fun walking along having your glasses bombarded with shit adverts.
by Lord Penguin
Sort of like what ThePhi said, I think one of the most interesting implications of this technology is “augmented” reality. Putting non-existent things in the world could cause many problems, but overlaying real things with “textures” for various purposes or labeling things could be very useful. Of course, it’ll be a long time before we can do that well, because of the enormous FPS (for both camera and display), resolution, and processing power required.
Advertising is the thing I’m most worried about. We’re already surrounded by them, but this is even more invasive. Privacy is also an issue once someone walking by can use their glasses to know private things, and potentially use them against you.
by Editor
Lord Penguin: Yes, there will need to be an equivalent of the Chrome AdBlock extension. Interesting comment on labeling. There will need to be a better way to harden (block radiation from, or encrypt) the electronics. One could imagine pervasive QR codes (perhaps to show only in IR light to minimize clutter), which would minimize processing issues (compared to textures). What about personalized or even encrypted Q codes? AR apps will probably evolve to allow for personalized recognition and coding.
by Vegeta
His power level – ITs over 9000.
by urshadow
This is “Rainbow’s End” finally coming to life, just as Vernor Vinge wrote it. Check it out…
by John O Crawford
This is just the trial baloon; the real idea is to do it with ordinary glasses or behind sunglasses. The thing that puts the picture in front of you is called a ‘combiner’. This can be built into ordinary eyewear- in fact, eventually it has to be. Check out my patents.
by Carl
“I want to skip the tablets and go directly to the eye wear.”
I want to skip the eyewear and just jam it straight into my brain.
by Dan Robinson
Getting technical, I assume this is a holographic image, so it can produce an image at a focus-able distance. Can it be for both eyes, for 3D image capabilities? I think I’ll still want a wearable keyboard to go with it.
Maybe we’ll get to the point (before cars drive themselves) where we have to tell our computer to start the car and it won’t allow both operations at the same time. Then we’ll be left with only pedestrian-bicycle-surroundings accidents.
by Roz
I have a profound form of dyslexia, and I have imagined a day were I could look at text and have it immediately converted to speech. Approximately 30% of the population has some form of dyslexia and this product could be used to create a more inclusive world!
I would love to beta test this product for you.
by Ryan
making things increasingly easy is just gonna manufacture lazier after lazier generations. fuck this
by ThePhi
Google is looking for ideas concerning Augmented-reality glasses?! I can’t believe that! A-R glasses would be the next big thing after the Internet, the revolution that could change everything!
But I can help a little if they need, after all: we could have A-R glasses for :
-Games: you see a virtual person directly in your environment, that you can chase, etc…
-Information: remember the first terminator? It could be real. A-R glasses with the app to know people’s age of the for a start. etc… A lot of information could be written on the persons that you are looking at.
-Living in another world: Imagine that the A-R could put an environment, landscape, directly over your world. You could live in a forest, or in the XVIII century, with clothes of the people automatically changed etc…
-Sex of course! A virtual avatar interacting with you… You guess the rest…
by ztr
all your ideas is a KID’s dreams, be the realist – google wants more MONEY.
what this project about is a VIRTUAL ADVERTISEMENT in a REAL WORLD.
everything else is just a tinted glass to hide the real idea behind this project.
by Cybernettr
That type of overlaid VR would be far harder to pull off than “normal” VR because the virtual world would have to be overlaid perfectly on top of the real world, users would have to resist the temptation to run into the street, etc. I would expect regular hyper-realistic VR to arrive long before what you describe ever comes along.
by Spikosauropod
“I want to skip the tablets and go directly to the eye wear.”
Tablets are noble—an otherworldly aristocrat with his toga and magic scroll.
These are totally dorky. All you dorks who wear these will need an app that explains expressions like eyes rolling up and pretend gag reflexes.
by Remi Tippetts
If you could integrate AR glasses with an eye tracker and an EEG peripheral(perhaps worn in a hat or shrunken down enough to hide in hair) you could navigate simply by looking at interface elements and thinking. I believe that would be the ideal setup.
by Mac
ADD is underrated…..and sunrises are overrated.
by Ken Olaye
Really koooool, we’ll adapt to it real fast……no worries
by Gianluca
You could use binocular cameras such as those in the Microsoft Kinect for gesture recognition. That would allow for on screen’s items manipulation without voice inputs.
by Razor
>> Good Lord, is everyone going to be running around with those things on? Those are even more annoying than those earpieces people wear.
Get used to it Grandad!
by Editor
These kids today! LOL
by Mac
What I was thinking! ‘In my day……’
by Jeff Barnett
I would like to have a keyboard that only you can see and it can make it look like its projecting on any surface. I dont want to speak all the commands. And then object ,manipulation like in miniority report.
by Colan
I’m hoping that these can be modified by the user to add extra components, and such things. Maybe wireless devices can be tethered to it with a USB port in the back (some kind of input device, maybe — I’m not convinced that voice control will be accurate enough for the uses displayed in the video).
I’ll almost certainly be an early adopter (dependent on whether I can change and modify it).
by Glen
tmi . he missed the full experience of the sunrise because he was simultaneously playing an instrument, taking pictures, communicating, googling, networking… do we really have to wonder why ADD is increasing at such a rapid rate? I’m just sayin…
by Khannea Suntzu
I volunteer for Google to become a product tester. I’ll blog about it and use it gratuitously in all these exotic locations world wide. Trust me, I’d be great advertising for this amazing product. My email address is…
by Khannea Suntzu
That blonde with the radiant smile in the pic is half the coolness factor of the device.
by gaoptimize
I predict an increase in car-pedestrian accidents. Never the less, individuals that can apply this technology in a discerning way will have an enormous advantage. Count me in as a likely early adopter.
It would be nice if there was a RFID reader, bar, and QR code reader. It would be nice if there was a beacon/transponder feature accessible by (selected sets of) passers by allowing one to send and read something like “I’m Tom, talk to me about aquaponics”. A compass and map would be nice (especially for the wife), and I think we can assume that one..
I expect thoughtful people will go through the catalog of droid apps and figure out a way to adapt the relevant ones to this.
by John Doe
The idea of labelling other people is absolutely brilliant, and would effectively put an end to the awkwardness of trivial “getting to know you” conversations. You could find somebody who has something in common with you and then make things happen. You could even have a relationship status in there.
by steve
it won’t make a difference mate, you are never going to get laid
by GatorALLin
…..at gaptimize……
-I agree that pedestrian and car accidents may go up… Your glasses can tell you….”warning, you were just run over….by tom! ..His insurance policy lapsed…your s.o.l.”
- or “I’m Tom…. and a stalker……..keep walking…don’t look up now, he is staring again….
by Bill
I want that. I don’t like tablets. I want to skip the tablets and go directly to the eye wear. And I can’t summon a single bit of care over if someone thinks they looking dorky. Plus its not as if most people are doing their internet activities roaming the streets. Realistically, these glasses will be more about laying on your couch with your hands behind your head, surfing the internet. Then we get the mind reading caps, then the implants. :)
by Spikosauropod
Good Lord, is everyone going to be running around with those things on? Those are even more annoying than those earpieces people wear.
by Luzarius
Maybe worry about yourself and not others so much? Just an idea. I’ll be waiting for this just so I can piss people off wearing them!