Google is really working on augmented reality (AR) glasses-- the company just revealed Project Glass, a futuristic visor providing a Terminator-style augmented view of the world.
A fancy demo video shows the point of view of someone wearing the glasses, showing a variety of graphical overlays (weather, maps, text messages) and smartphone functionality (social network integration, voice messaging, video conferencing).
On the other hand concept designs Google shows feature what looks like an empty set of sleek metal frames with small rectangular display perching over the right eye-- unlike earlier reports of prototypes looking like a pair of Oakley Thumps sunglasses.
Further confirming the existence of the project, Google co-founder Sergey Brin was caught at dinner wearing a pair of Google Glass prototypes. Brin also leads the Project Glass team, part of the secretive Google X laboratory.
Not everyone is convinced by Google's promises though-- Blair MacIntyre, Augmented Environments Lab director at Georgia Tech comments “You could not do AR with a display like [the Project Glass concept]. The small field of view, and placement off to the side, would result in an experience where the content is rarely on the display and hard to discover and interact with. But it’s a fine size and structure for a small head-up display.”
Macintyre also predicts Project Glass will only have glasses on the market in at least 2 years' time, as mobile display technology still has to catch up with Google's augmented vision of the future.
Watch Project Glass Demo Video
Go Sergey Brin Wearing Google Glasses