The widely anticipated evolution hatched Google glass, a spectacle-like device that contains a hidden computer, a thumbnail-size transparent display screen above the right eye and other digital wizardry. This internet-connected headgear is set up to let users receive search results, read email, scan maps for directions and engage in video chats without reaching for a smartphone. Google Glass' grasp of voice commands even makes it possible to shoot hands-free photos and videos.
Glass has potential to be much more than a novelty, especially if Google lowers the price below $500 by the time the company begins selling the device to the general public next year. (The exact date has yet to be determined.) Google has strived to imbue Glass with a sense of style by decorating the titanium frames in five different colors: charcoal, tangerine, shale, cotton and sky blue. Glass also weighs about the same as a pair of regular sunglasses, a vast improvement over Google's early prototype of the device, which consisted of a phone attached to a scuba mask.Glass doesn't actually have any spectacles in the frame, though Google eventually hopes to offer that option for those who wear prescription lenses.
Turning on Glass is done by tapping a finger on the right side of the frame. The device can also be activated by tilting your head upward. Glass users have to turn on the device frequently because it automatically turned off every 30 seconds or so. This is meant to save the limited battery life (it only lasts about 90 minutes if you're recording a lot of video, but Google says the battery should be adequate for a full day's use for most people). Glass can connect to the internet through a Wi-Fi network or by pairing with your smartphone through a Bluetooth connection.
The map was quite immersive because even though the Glass screen is small, the display is in high-definition and gives the illusion that you are seeing the image on something much larger. The screen is deliberately aligned slightly above the right eye so it won't prevent users from maintaining eye contact during face-to-face conversations. That means you need to glance upward when you want to look at something on the screen.
Glass' coolest feature is its ability to almost instantly take photos with the device's 5-megapixel camera or record high-definition (720p) videos that provide a startling perspective on how your own eyes see things. This is done simply by saying "OK Glass, take a picture" or "OK Glass, record a video" and the device does it. The images can then be seen on the display screen and, then, with the right app, shared on Twitter or Facebook and stored on your Google Plus profile.
