Google Glass? Now you can wear a Computer

   Sergey Brin Wearing Google Glass

Google Glass, recently launched by Google is a wearable computer with a head mounted display (HMD). A controversial Gadget which works like a Smartphone in a hands-free mode. Glass interacts with the internet by means of voice commands via natural language.

Replacing Eyeglasses Soon

Google glass does not have currently any lenses fitted to the frames, although the gadget resembles closely to the sunglasses. Google is actively searching for the partners and considering famous brands like Ray-Ban or Warby Parker for enabling Glass to match the prescription lenses of the wearer.

Google is even considering for offering the Glass through retail shops to allow customers try on this device. The explorer edition which has been launched by Google is available for $1500 for testers in United States.

Development

Glass has been developed by the Google X Labs, which worked on the driverless cars project. Babak Parviz is the project lead of Glass. The demo Glass resembles to a normal sunglasses and just weighs 8 pounds which is lighter than average eyeglasses. Future development will make it possible to allow integration of Glass in normal eyeglasses.

Explorer Edition

The explorer version of Glass is available for the consumers and developers and was made public on 20th February 2013. The explorer edition connects to the internet through wi-fi or to an Android, iPhone via Bluetooth.

Google Glass connects to iPhone and Android Phone by MyGlass companion app which was released on the same day.

Features

Glass has the ability to record videos and take pictures based on voice commands. When a recording starts a light flashes above the eye which is not noticed by the wearer. Glass is also capable to run many Google applications including the Google Maps, Gmail, Google Now, Google Translate, Google Plus etc.

Google Glass

For supporting third party extensions Google has already released the Mirror API which can be used by the Developers to create Glass apps. Using ads and charging fees for the Glass apps is not allowed by Google.

Voice Commands

Glass accepts the voice commands and performs the tasks based on these commands which are natural language commands.

Every command starts with "ok, glass, ....." For recording a video the command would be "ok, glass, record a video". For taking picture command is "ok, glass, take a picture"

For translation "ok, glass, say [text] in [any language]."

Specifications

The explorer edition of Glass uses Android 4.0.4 and there has been no word about the display resolution of the gadget yet. A 5 megapixel camera which is included can record HD video at 720p.

For connectivity there is Wi-fi 802.11 b/g and bluetooth. It has a storage of 16 GB and the RAM is 682MB.

The explorer edition of Glass can send the text message by pairing the device with a Android Phone or iPhone using Glass companion app on the phones. Glass also has its own compass but lacks the GPS receiver. To get location data it depends on the smartphone.

Glass is in controversy as this smart Gadget would violate the 4th Amendment Rights.