Rumor: Google Developing HUD-Enabled Android-based Glasses, Said to be Coming Soon
This is quite the interesting rumor. 9to5Google is reporting that Google is definitely working on previously-rumored HUD-enabled glasses. Think “Terminator” or “RoboCop” for an idea of what the HUD might look like.
The photo below is said to be close to what these Google glasses look like. It’s a pair of Oakleys THUMP MP3 glasses. Take those, apply steroids and you have what the source of this story is reporting.
The pair of glasses will apparently use the same transparent display technology that we saw Samsung and others show off at CES 2012. One lens will display everything to ensure your vision is not entirely clouded by whatever it is you’ll be looking at. The device will apparently use head gestures to navigate the operating system, which we hear is Android-based.
We’re sure Android will be heavily adapted for something of this nature but it’s unsure to what extent. I imagine reading email, text messages, social network updates and receiving phone calls will be some of the main functions featured on this so-called device. Imagine being able to see who’s trying to contact you without ever having to reach for your phone.
Imagine being able to take a call or respond to a text message without having to reach for your phone, too. Put a couple of microphones and a set of earphones like those seen above and you’ve got one of the coolest phones or phone accessories ever.
The device will reportedly house a camera, as well. We’re not sure what the primary use for it will be but it would be great to have a head camera to capture moments through my eyes. That camera will apparently be accompanied by a flash so we can at least assume still shots will be a possibility.
All of this is said to be in the works and to be unveiled soon, though it’s not yet known how Google will handle a launch. Since this product isn’t something that most people would keep their eye on (no pun intended) it could be a mistake for Google to mass produce these for retail. Instead, 9to5 suggests they’ll make them available through a program similar to the CR-48 Chromebook trials.
I would personally love to have something like this. I wear prescription glasses but I wouldn’t mind throwing these on over those for the functionality alone, as silly as it may look. If anything, just owning it would be enough to appease my geeky needs.