All You Need to Know About Google Glass

Walk down the street in any bustling cosmopolitan city and you will struggle to avoid passers-by with their eyes glued to the screens of their smartphones. However, while smartphones have been a mainstay of many people’s lives for several years now, technological entrepreneurs at Google have continued their attempts to improve the way we view and search for data by developing a less obtrusive, ‘heads up’ display that allows users to have constant access to information with minimal hassle.

In basic terms, Google Glass is a lightweight headset with a projected display that also includes a camera, microphone, and the ability to connect to the Internet. This headset takes the form of a pair of high-tech glasses that allow wearers to accomplish a variety of tasks without ever having to fumble around for their smartphone or sit down in front of a computer.

Design and Fit

Its simple and clean design has been called both elegant and crude, though this is something Google has been working on. Hardware-wise, Google Glass is made up of a continuous titanium band, the sleekness of which is somewhat ruined by the plastic contraption to one side. When all is said and done however, most would admit that they are no more uncomfortable than regular spectacles.

Nevertheless, Google will undoubtedly continue to improve their new-fangled product, addressing issues and concerns as and when they can. Indeed, their current search for potential partners among eyewear companies proves their desire to improve not only the functionality, but also the look and feel of their headset. Alongside its desire to collaborate with eyewear designers, Google is most likely also looking at the possibility of incorporating prescription lenses into Google Glass, for users who normally wear corrective glasses. We can be sure also this kind of solution would be accompanied by partnerships with some key players in this field, and rumors in this direction seem to already have positively influenced the stock value of the likes of Luxottica and Essilor.

Functionality

In terms of functionality, Google Glass will work also when paired with a smartphone – via the MyGlass app – or via a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. Though the potential of such a product is enormous, currently its main attraction is its ability to search, take photos and films, and navigate by simply swiping the touchpad or issuing voice commands.

What’s more, Google Glass can provide real-time weather updates, translations, transcriptions, messaging, e-mail dictation and hangouts with fairly high levels of performance. Other apps currently being developed and improved include the New York Times app, which allows Glass wearers to view the news while on the move.

While the potential for such a piece of technology is very great, Google Glass has been experiencing some teething problems and areas of irritation for users. For example, the volume and brightness levels cannot be altered, Wi-Fi cannot be disabled, the battery is both bulky and has an extremely short life, and display detail is not as good as high-PPI displays on smartphones, with color inconsistencies and problems with vision in bright sunlight.

It goes without saying that if this new headset succeeds, it will revolutionize the way in which we search for and view data, as well as the way we communicate and receive information updates. In short, watch this space.