Google is providing the first public glimpse of the augmented-reality glasses being developed by its Google X research group under the name “Project Glass.”

But the initial images shown by the Project Glass team via its Google+ page reveal that the “glasses” aren’t really glasses in the traditional sense.

Instead they’re frames that house a small device on one side and put a mini display in the periphery of one eye — making the wearer look like a fashionable cyborg.

In the video above, the company shows how the glasses would work, using the display in connection with a wireless connection, voice recognition, a camera and other components to assist the person wearing the glasses — overlaying interactive graphics such as map data on top of the real world to assist the wearer as he or she moves around throughout the day.

“We think technology should work for you—to be there when you need it and get out of your way when you don’t,” the team explains in its post. “A group of us from Google[x] started Project Glass to build this kind of technology, one that helps you explore and share your world, putting you back in the moment.”

In some ways, the glasses represent the evolution of technologies like Apple’s existing Siri virtual assistant for the iPhone.

Why unveil them now? The New York Times and Reuters say the Project Glass team will be testing prototypes in public. The New York Times reported previously that the glasses would go on sale this year, but the Google team doesn’t mention that possibility.

What do you think? Would you use these glasses in public, and how much would you pay for them?


  • Guest

    Not 100% there. But it does seem like Google’s R&D projects are a) a lot more innovative and b) focused on products that could actually be viable, at least as compared to the black hole of money known as Microsoft Research.  

  • Guest

    A day later (post announcement) and the actual vision appears… 

    • MD

      Yes, that’s much more like it :)

  • Billg

    I want it to remember where I put my keys!

  • Guest

    Congratulations to Google on this vision! I have not actually watched the video but it seems like a fantastic production.

  • Baron Schaaf

    I’ve been waiting for consumer Microvision products and applications.

  • Loren West

    Is it just me, or do those look like the opti-grab?

  • Savti7

    This is awesome. Beats SIRI b/c it just does what you say and doesn’t talk back. Can’t wait to get one.

  • Fogrocker


  • vergoglio

    the eye-phone from futurama…

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