Google Glass is a new type of product called augmented reality glasses. In short, Google Glass is a wearable smartphone that overlays the reality of your normal vision with digital information, or graphics, that augments what you see.
Augmented reality is already available to a limited extent with all Android smartphones. The website Android Authority provides a list of some of the best augmented reality apps. The app Google Gogggles uses the camera and the screen to provide augmented reality, but in practice this implementation tends to be cumbersome and most Android users I’ve talked to have never even tried using augmented reality.
Google is also providing the ability to test an early version of the Google Glass as a “Glass Explorer.” The unique twist is that applications for becoming a Glass Explorers are submitted via Twitter. These are the rules according to Quartz :
“Using Google+ or Twitter, tell us what you would do if you had Glass, starting with the hashtag #ifihadglass.
Your application must be 50 words or less You must include #ifihadglass in your application You can include up to 5 photos with your application You can include a short video (15 secs max) Be sure to follow us on Google+ (+ProjectGlass) or Twitter (@projectglass) so that we can contact you directly”
There is one catch. If you’re a winner you’re required to fork up $1500 to purchase the Google Glass, and according to Google you’ll also be required to pay for airfare to pick up the device in person (assuming you don’t live in or near one of the launch event cities):
“The deadline for applications is February 27th. If you are chosen, we will reach out to you with an invitation to become a Glass Explorer (please remember to follow us so that we can contact you directly). Explorers will each need to pre-order a Glass Explorer Edition for $1500 plus tax and attend a special pick-up experience, in person, in New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles.”
Would you purchase a Google Glass ? Are you interested in using augmented reality ?
http://youtu.be/v1uyQZNg2vE