Google Goggles could soon become a set of physical goggles if murmurings from within the company are true. Could this be the death knell for smart phones?
More: Will The Google X Glasses Arrive By Year’s End?
According to a New York Times report, several unnamed Google employees have reiterated that these “Google glasses” will be hitting the market by the end of the year and will retail between $US250-600. Purportedly under development at the Google X Labs, they’re said to be Android-based (obviously), work on both 3G and 4G networks, and include a suite of sensory equipment.
According to reports from 9 to 5 Google, they’ll likely resemble the Oakley Thumps. The glasses are also expected to include a built-in low-resolution camera that could be employed in object and location identification. This would allow the glasses to overlay pertinent information about your surroundings — though there’s are a bevy of privacy implications to be hashed out with everybody wearing, and potentially recording, everyone around them. “You will be able to check in to locations with your friends through the glasses,” one Google employee added.
On the software side, the glasses will reportedly work with a large number of Google’s services — including the Google cloud, Latitude, Goggles, and Maps — while displaying the information in a Heads-Up Display.
Navigation will be unique, to say the least. According to 9 to 5 Google’s Seth Weintraub, “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.”
The glasses are apparently not designed for constant wear, though if they’re anywhere near as cool as they sound, you’ll be hard-pressed to find me without a pair on. [NYT Bits]
Image: nito/ Shutterstock
The Cracks
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:10 PMMy only question: Will they work with prescription lenses?
If so, sold.
Lichbane
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:42 PMWill Apple try to patent it?
Deshan
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 2:04 AMnope, why would apple patent something it didn’t create?
you just think apple patents whatever they like, but truth is, they patent what they invent. Obviously they would not be allowed to patent something thats not theirs. so your comment is nothing but utter failure, just as i hope google to be someday.
Sneddo
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 8:52 AMyou don’t need to invent anything to have a patent. A rough idea and simple sketch seems to be enough.
oldmate
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 1:18 PMIfan, Apple will patent whatever they think will be profitable regardless of invention or not.
Michael
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:15 AMMy question is, what powers them? Also, can I use them while watching a 3D movie?
Matt L
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 9:55 AMI’ll field this one.
“What powers them” – A battery
“Can I use them while watching a 3D movie” – Why would you, but I’m sure you can with a lack of quality, and if you need glasses for the movie it would probably be uncomfortable.
Rob
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:42 AMGround breaking… since when do batteries power portable devices?