News from the Web report Google Glass is coming up at the end of 2013 for under $1,500. You’ll be able to wear it nearly all the time: while skiing, dancing, drinking beer, kissing your wife...but is this really going to work?
If you've never heard of the above, although I'm sure you have - unless of course you've been living up on a tree for last year or so - Google Glass is part of a project called “Project Glass”. The team behind Glass is in charge of developing an augmented reality head-mounted display, as known as HMD, which is in fact named Google Glass.
You can see from the intro image what we’re talking about. They sometimes call it hands-free/hands-up display, because of course you no longer need your hands, or fingers, to enjoy the power of the Internet. Google Glass displays the information you want in a smartphone kind of format, but hands free, because you need only to use voice commands.
With Google Glass you can:
- Say “take a picture” to let Glass shot a picture for you.
- Record a video, through using some other vocal command.
- Share what you see with others, doing this live though.
- Getting Google Maps directions right in front of your eyes instead of looking at your smartphone.
- Send a message through voice command.
- Ask a question, of nearly any kind, and get a response.
- Perform on-the-go translations.
To fully understand Glass' potentiality, you may watch the following video from Google Glass official website. The video has been a huge worldwide hit in the last few days.
Hands-Up Concept Greatly Reinvented
Although I love the project, for it is an excellent work, Google has not invented anything completely new. The hands-up display is a project many other companies around the world have worked on since a while back. I talked about this in a previous article entitled Getting to Google Glass.
You can certainly say, though, they have done a better job than other companies worldwide. The design is pretty cool, and the device itself is much smaller than all the other models you can see on Writeca.com’s Getting to Google Glass.
There has been some criticism about the design of the product lately. It has been said Google Glass should be more wearable, and fashionable. According to news from the Web, Google’s design team is now in talks to a famous fashion glasses company called Warby Parker, in order to arrive to a better, as well as wearable, version of its new product.
How do You Get One?
Google is of course marketing its product a lot, and is looking for individuals ready to be part of shaping the future of Glass. They recently launched a kind of competition on Google Glass how-to-get-one page, and they are asking:
Can you answer the question? If yes, you may apply through Google’s how-to-get-one page. They promise the experience will be exciting for the ones who get involved in the experiment.
You need to:
- Use either Google+ or Twitter to send a message telling what you’d do if you had the Glass. You must start with the #ifihadglass tag, followed by your personal message.
- You can add up to 5 photos in your application.
- You can include a 15 seconds max video as well.
- You must be living in the U.S., and be over 18 years old to apply.
The deadline is the 27th of February, and the chosen ones will be contacted by Google. If chosen you’ll need to pre-order the Glass for $1,500 (plus tax). After that, you’ll be then invited to an official event to pick up your device. The event will be either in New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco.
To be honest I think Google’s latest product is indeed a cool device. However, I do not think it will be appealing to a very large consumer audience. Why you ask?
First of all, think about the social awkwardness of it: how would you feel wearing such a thing while you are at the supermarket doing some shopping?
Secondly, it seems very delicate, ready to break in a matter of weeks. They better provide consumers with a “rock solid” warranty; otherwise they are not going to sell many of those things.
Thirdly, and most importantly, the price is a little of a barrier, it's too high; of course I imagine production costs would be high too, but still, that doesn't convince me for now.
Well, there is something that would convince me to buy the Glass straight away: a nice, romantic and unforgettable dinner with the lady in the intro image of this article. Do you think they’d do it for me, just for me? I think they’d do it; after all…business is business!
What about you: are you going to apply to become a Glass’ Explorer? What makes you excited about the new device from Google? Do you think the price is too high, or just about fair? I am curious to know what you think. Share your thoughts with me here, and start the conversation at Writeca.com.
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