GOOGLE GLASSProject Glass(Google Glass or Sergey Brin Glass) is a development project done by Google at Google lab to develop an augmented reality optical head-mounted display (OHMD) named Google Glass.

The device was announced on Google+ by Babak Parviz in early 2012, and more information came out over in 2013. Google estimates the release to be in early 2014. The price is also unknown as of Feb 2013, but Google is planning on making them cost no more than the average smartphone.

SPECIFICATIONS

Google Glass products display information in a smartphone-like format hands-free, and can interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands. The eye wear's functionality and minimalist appearance (aluminium strip with 2 nose pads) has been compared to Steve Mann's Eye-tap, and uses Google's Android operating system. Google has patented the design of Project Glass. Thad Starner is a Technical/Lead Manager on the project. Google might run Google Glass along with Android 5.0 (named Key Lime Pie) expected by 2014.

GOOGLE GLASS PROTOTYPES

Though head-worn displays for augmented reality are not a new idea, the project has drawn media attention mainly due to its backing by Google. The first Project Glass demo resembles a pair of normal eyeglasses where the lens is replaced by a head-up display. In the future, new designs may allow integration of the display into people's normal eye-wear. The main way to operate the glasses will be through voice commands, and by tilting your head. However, there are semi-confirmed rumours about many other ways to operate the glasses. One of the rumours is for scrolling a page. To do this, you simply make a scrolling motion with your finger on the side of the glasses. Another way is that a small laser mounted on the glasses will project a keyboard on the operator's arm and hand. The other hand can be used to type on the keyboard. The camera will detect what buttons are pressed. The glasses are expected to run Google's Android mobile operating system.

TOUCHPAD

A touchpad is located on the side of Google Glass, allowing users to control the device by swiping through a timeline-like interface displayed on the screen. Sliding backward shows current events, such as weather, and sliding forward shows past events, such as phone calls, photos, etc.

CAMERA

Google Glass has the ability to take photos and record 720p HD video. While video is recording, the screen stays on.

DISPLAY

The Explorer version of Google Glass uses a Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS), field-sequential colour, LED illuminated display.

The display's LED illumination is first P-polarized and then shines through the in-coupling polarizing beam splitter (PBS) to the LCoS panel. The panel reflects the light and alters it to S-polarization at active pixel sites. The in-coupling PBS then reflects the S-polarized areas of light at 45° through the out-coupling beam splitter to a collimating reflector at the other end. Finally, the out-coupling beam splitter reflects the collimated light another 45° and into the wearer's eye.

VOICE ACTIVATION

Other than the touchpad, Google Glass can be controlled using "voice actions". To activate Glass, wearers tilt their heads 30° upward (which can be altered for preference) or tap the touchpad, and say "O.K., Glass." Once Glass is activated, wearers can say an action, such as "Take a picture", "Record a video", "Hangout with [person/Google+ circle]", "Google 'What year was Wikipedia founded?'", "Give me directions to the Eiffel Tower", and "Send a message to John"(many of these commands can be seen in a product video released in February 2013).For search results that are read back to the user, the voice response is relayed using bone conduction through a transducer that sits beside the ear, thereby rendering the sound almost inaudible to other people.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

•Android 4.0.4 and higher•640×360 Himax helloHX7309 LCoS display•5-megapixel camera, capable of 720p video recording•Wi-Fi 802.11b/g•Bluetooth•16GB storage (12 GB available)•Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 SoC 1.2Ghz Dual(ARMv7)•682MB RAM•3 axis gyroscope•3 axis accelerometer•3 axis magnetometer (compass)•Ambient light sensing and proximity sensor•Bone conduction audio transducer

APPLICATIONS

Google Glass applications are free applications built by third-party developers. Glass also uses many existing Google applications, such as Google Now, Google Maps, Google+, and Gmail.

Third-party applications announced at South by Southwest (SXSW) include Evernote, Skitch, The New York Times, and Path.

On November 19, 2013, Google unveiled its Glass Development Kit, showcasing a translation app Word Lens, a cooking app AllTheCooks, and an exercise app Strava among others as successful examples.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

Concerns have also been raised on operating motor vehicles while wearing the device. On 31 July 2013 it was reported that driving while wearing Google Glass is likely to be banned in the UK, being deemed careless driving, therefore a fixed penalty offense, following a decision by the Department for Transport.

In the US, West Virginia state representative Gary G. Howell introduced an amendment in March 2013 to the state's law against texting while driving that would include bans against "using a wearable computer with head mounted display." In an interview, Howell stated, "The primary thing is a safety concern, it [the glass headset] could project text or video into your field of vision. I think there's a lot of potential for distraction.

MYGLASS

Google offers a companion Android and iOS app called MyGlass, which allows you to configure and manage your device.

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Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy using Google Glass at a meeting of his party