Rating: Could this lead to augmented reality bling?
Google’s decision to unveil a pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses via a Google Circles’ posting caused something of a stir within the industry. Especially since the news was almost immediately followed by reports (and photographs) of Google own co-founder Sergey Brin out in San Francisco wearing them. The first picture was courtesy of blogger Robert Scoble on Twitter here. However, Brin appears to have confirmed that the Google Glasses were still very much at prototype stage. The glasses are actually the result of researchers working on something called Project Glass and the chief culprits appear to be Babak Parviz, Steve Lee and Sebastian Thrun. You can view their Circles posting here. GoMobile News was intrigued to get a reaction to the news from Christian Lindholm, CIO was design house – Fjord.Christian Lindholm, observed, “As devices become increasingly mobile and embedded in our everyday experience, Google’s pair of futuristic augmented reality (AR) glasses marks a step towards mainstream ‘wearable’ technology.
It is demonstrating how smart objects are poised to take centre stage in the next couple of years.”
Lindholm added, “Google’s new technology is a perfect example of how devices are evolving into a pocketable ‘hub’ that co-ordinates personal technology with your selection of wearables and accessories.”
GoMobile News itself was struck by one of the comments to the original Google Circles posting from fellow Brit, Michael Lee Johnson who said, “With deep Google+ integration this could be a social network game-changer in the making.”
An interesting point – especially if the glasses won’t be designed to work with Facebook. The product could spur more people to join circles.
“The device’s ability to transmit information to the wearer, ability to take pictures, check the weather, and offer a location facility using voice activated icons demonstrates the transformation of smart objects into everyday objects,” Christian Lindholm claimed.
He reckons that the emergence of digital wearables will mean of an array of mobile ‘satellite objects’.
The list will wrist-based accessories and even jewellery that uses your mobile as a digital hub around which these connected objects can be arranged.
It’s a horrible thought but we may well see rappers wearing AR-enhanced bling. “Is that chain AU? No, man, it’s AR.” Etc. Etc.
It will be interesting to see who – besides Google, will come step into the digital wearable space over the rest of 2012.
