Glasses are no longer just for seeing clearly.

Google Glass is a pair of glasses that weighs about the same as a traditional pair of sunglasses, with a single translucent glass screen in front of the right eye. The glass screen will allow for the projection of travel directions, viewing of pictures and consumption of video, according to a June 29, 2012, article by Wired magazine.

Even though Google Glass represents a significant leap forward in technology, there is uncertainty as to whether the public will accept it when it is released in 2014.

Google Glass will also have a built-in 720p high-definition camera mounted on the frame, according to a Feb. 26 IGN article. This feature will allow the wearer to snap pictures, record video and stream live video to the Internet, according to Wired.

Google Glass will be navigated by voice commands similar to Apple’s Siri. Since this accessory will be worn in an active setting, there will not be any keypads or touchscreens, according to Wired.

The “Explorer” edition will allow for the coupling of traditional sunglasses or even prescription glasses, according to a Feb. 24 post on Information Space, the School of Information Studies’ blog.

To distribute the highly anticipated glasses, Google has been collecting tweets with the hashtag #IfIHadGlass. Only 8,000 pairs of Glass priced at $1,500 will be available through the fast-paced social media promotion, according to the blog.

The general public will probably not be able to buy Glass in retail until 2014, according to Wired.

At this point, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS integration will be standard, but later editions may incorporate a cell radio inside for cellphone call transmission, according to IGN.

The goal of Glass is to help people stay connected with family and friends seamlessly and without the need for a smartphone. Glass’ ability to record videos from a first-person perspective will also allow rich content-sharing opportunities, according to IGN.

Glass, built on Google’s Android operating system, will allow developers to be creative. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict whether consumers will enjoy having a computer around their eyes, according to Wired.

Google’s demo video, “How it Feels,” features a montage of different applications of Glass. Uses such as recording a rollercoaster ride, snapping pictures of friends or asking for directions while skiing down a slope demonstrate that Glass can be useful as a personal assistant. Even though not all features will be available for the initial launch, they will likely be introduced as developers become familiar with the product.

Kearney Erhard, a junior advertising and marketing major and author of the Information Space blog, said in an email that the public may be slow to accept Google Glass, but that it may grow in popularity, given the support behind it.

“Google Glass has an uphill battle in convincing consumers that they need a screen constantly appearing in their vision,” he said. “However, there is little doubt that the product will be a success given the hype and the big money behind the project.”

Published on March 5, 2013 at 12:09 am

Contact Jared: jmrose03@syr.edu