How Google Glass works

Google Glass

Arguably the most exciting innovation in personal tech in 2014 is going to be the wildly anticipated Google Glass. A headset that specialises in supplementing a user’s vision with additional information and options, it has been in a testing programme since April 2013 and is finally set to go on sale to the public in the next year. While Google Glass is essentially just a wearable Android-powered computer system built into a pair of sleek frames, it’s one of several products ushering in a new age of augmented reality, with our standard view of the world about to evolve (see ‘Augmented reality’ boxout for more information). As well as allowing users to access information about their surroundings, Google Glass also acts as a video recorder, camera, mobile phone and computer all in one, with a variety of commands – by voice or touchpad – allowing you to take photos, make calls, browse the internet or even record your daily experiences completely hands-free. Right now, Google Glass and similar smartglass systems like GlassUp are very much in the early adoption stage, but with more and more going on sale in 2014 this is the start of a revolution.

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riding bike Google Glass

Augmented view: The result of the prism and projector is a view that combines normal vision with a translucent overlay image, supplying instant information like directions