9 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOOGLE GLASS

                          

     

         Apple’s smartwatch may still be couched in secrecy, but there’s one piece of wearable tech we know a lot more about – Google’s alwaysconnected eyewear. It might seem like sci-fi, but  it’s fast becoming reality. Here are the facts…


1. IT HAS A SLICK NEW INTERFACE 

 The first Project Glass video was very impressive, but on closer inspection it was a bit unrealistic. The latest demo shows a simpler interface, with text and basic graphics displayed in the corner of the wearer’s vision, rather than taking up the whole view.



2  IT’S AN EXTENSION OF YOUR PHONE

  Like most of the smartwatches you’ve been reading about here, Glass is a companion to your phone rather than a replacement for it. There is Wi-Fi and GPS but no SIM card slot inside, so you need to pair the specs with your phone in order to access data


3  IT WILL LISTEN TO YOU

 Glass is largely voice-controlled, but to activate it you must tap the side of the frame or lift your head. Once it’s listening, say “OK Glass” followed by a command: Google something, get directions, take a picture or record video (defaulted to record Vine-style short clips). 


4  IT SEES WHAT YOU SEE 

 Glass’s camera mimics your POV, so whatever you see, it sees. But you don’t have to keep the view to yourself. As well as shooting videos and taking pictures to store locally, you can broadcast what you see via a Hangout. Time to give Google Plus another go…


5  IT SPEAKS MANY TONGUES  

Google Translate has been having a bash at interpreting foreign languages on phones and web browsers for a while now and it’s built right into Glass, with the translated word read out for you. Add in airport departure info and Glass looks like a real globetrotter.


6  IT *ALMOST* LOOKS COOL 

 A tinted lens attachment turns Glass from sci-fi prop into Oakley-esque frameless shades. The electronics also come off  and will be compatible with third-party frames, with nouveau vintage brand Warby Parker named as potential partners.


7  IT’LL RUN THIRDPARTY APPS 

 As well as email, Maps and video skills, Glass will be able to run apps, some of which were shown off at tech jamboree South By Southwest. A New York Times app, for example, drops headlines into your eyeline. Tap the frame and Glass will read you the story.


8  IT’S NOT QUITE FINISHED YET… 

 Glass is still in development but Google’s already despatched semi-prototype ‘Explorer edition’ headsets to early adopters and developers for in-the-field beta- and hope-users-don’timmediately-get-mugged testing.  Still, it should be on sale in 2013.


9  …AND IT’LL BE PRETTY PRICEY 

 The Explorers were available in five colours (black, orange, grey, white and blue) at a rather eye- watering cost of US$1500. That’s the kind of price that’ll put off all but the most hardened wannabe cyborgs, so if Glass is to take off, expect it to plummet by launch.