Vuzix Android-based Smart Glasses could beat Google Project Glass to market
While the hype surrounding Project Glass has been mostly talk (and one pretty exciting product demo), another company has developed a similar product that could beat Google’s brainchild to market. Introducing Vuzix Smart Glasses. Less a GUI overlay for your world and more an extension of the hands-free Bluetooth headset, Smart Glasses offers a heads-up view of content from your Android smartphone. Everything from apps to social media (and whatever other apps developers can think of).
The Vuzix setup is pretty simple. You get the earpiece, a microUSB port for charging and updating software, a few buttons for navigation, and of course the over-eye screen, which simulates your smartphone display from a distance of 10 inches. The Smart Glasses do have their own processor and other internal hardware, so they can run basic applications without pairing to a smartphone.
As you will see in the video above, the spokesperson we talked to was hesitant to call Smart Glasses a true competitor to Project Glass, but the innovative product is definitely after a similar market. The biggest difference, though, is that Vuzix will be ready to ship their Android-based glasses by summer for less than $500. We’re still waiting for Google to deliver their pricey early developer preview.