Google looks to make science fiction real with Glasses

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Google is looking to make science fiction real when it ships its computerised eyeglasses by 2014.  http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9228577/Google_s_computerized_glasses_steal_the_show_at_I_O
 
Sergey Brin, a Google co-founder, said the glasses will ship to consumers about a year after the prototype Explorer Edition makes its way to developers, according to an interview he gave Bloomberg TV.  http://www.bloomberg.com/video/google-s-brin-says-glass-incredibly-compelling-5bgsBkIBTyCOtQMR7znkcA.html
 
On Wednesday (US time), Brin told the keynote audience at the company's annual Google I/O conference here that developers in attendance would be able to order the Explorer Edition for US$1,500 and they would receive the prototypes in 2013.
 
Brin noted that the consumer version of the glasses would be cheaper than the prototype.  http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9224083/Google_may_be_working_on_computerized_eyeglasses
 
"Since we've showed it to the public in April, we've gotten so many great ideas and so much feedback, we found it so valuable," Brin told Bloomberg. "We want to take that to the next level by letting other people, who are dedicated and serious and willing to be on the cutting edge, letting them do their own experimentation ... and affect our future designs and software."
 
Google made a huge splash at the opening day of the conference on Wednesday when it showed off the glasses by having two skydivers wear them while jumping out of a plane flying over the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco where the conference is being held. The glasses, which are equipped with a processor, memory, cameras, microphones and speakers, live-streamed video of the jump to giant screens onstage at the keynote.
 
"We created Glass so you can interact with the virtual world without distracting you from the real world," said Google designer Isabelle Olsson. "We don't want technology to get in the way."
 
Olsson noted that the Android-based glasses have a small screen, which they positioned right above one of the user's eyes so it adds to their experience without blocking their senses.
 
Brin told Bloomberg he's really excited to give computing a whole new place in people's lives.
 
"It's the notion of taking computing, which has moved from giant mainframes to laptops to phones, to perhaps an even lighter and more free form factor," he said. "Google X is about doing brand new risky technological things that are really about making science fiction real. We're not thinking about other existing products that are on the market today. We're trying to do risky things that may or may not work out, but it's got to be something that's really bold."
 
Google X is lab where the company's engineers and designers can work on future-leaning projects.


Published by Computerworld, written By Sharon Gaudin | San Francisco | Friday, 29 June, 2012
Link to article:  http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/technology/google-looks-to-make-science-fiction-real-with-glasses?opendocument&utm_source=topnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=topnews

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Apple on Tuesday was awarded a US patent for a head-mounted display device that's designed to project an image in front of a user's eyes, creating an 'enhanced viewing experience'

Google is already getting some stiff competition in the race to develop a wearable computer.
 
Apple on Tuesday (US time) was awarded a US patent for a head-mounted display device that's designed to project an image in front of a user's eyes, creating an "enhanced viewing experience."
 
The Apple patent notes that the device could focus on "augmented reality" by using a see-through image imposed upon a real-world view. That sounds a lot like a feature Google is touting in its new computerized glasses technology, dubbed Google Glass. At Google's annual Google I/O developer conference last week, Sergey Brin, a company co-founder, showed off a prototype of the Android-based glasses, which are designed to have a processor, memory, GPS sensor, cameras, microphone and speaker. Brin pointed out that the Google glasses are expected to have a display screen that sits just above one of the user's eyes so it doesn't impede his vision. Industry analysts told Computerworld this week that they expect Google Glass will accelerate the development of so-called wearable computers. Some industry experts predict that in five years, it will likely be common for people walking down the street to be wearing some form of computer. Brin and others say that users should look to Star Trek and other science fiction tales to find the next generation of computers, In reality, they say, many future computers won't look at all like today's devices. And with Apple putting its might behind developing wearable computers, development of the new systems should be even speedier. "Tech is a game of copycatting so I'm not shocked that Apple would jump in," said Zeus Kerravala, an analyst at ZK Research. "Apple obviously recognizes that there's value in it. The company that can provide the most context to the app developers, stands to win big." Apple's patent said that the company's device could have a second display, a processor, memory and a user interface. The patent documents also note that the device could be used for health care applications, such as giving surgeons information while they work, or for viewing movies. "Some examples include applications in surgery, where radiographic data, such as CAT scans or MRI imaging can be combined with the surgeon's vision," the Apple patent documents said. "Military, police and firefighters use HMDs [head-mounted display] to display relevant tactical information, such as maps or thermal imaging data. Consumer devices are also available for use in gaming and entertainment applications." Neither Apple nor Google responded to requests for comment for this story.


Published by Computerworld, written By Patrick Thibodeau | Framingham | Friday, 6 July, 2012
Link to article:  http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/technology/watch-out-google-apple-gets-patent-for-wearable-device?opendocument&utm_source=topnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=topnews