Google Glass - what is it? Google Glass smart glasses are back from the dead. Video

Inga Mayakovskaya

Reading time: 5 minutes

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Today we can find out the characteristics of the new unprecedented invention of the Googl corporation - Googl Glass. With the advent of Google Glass on the global electronics markets, ordinary tablets, gadgets and computers will no longer seem like the last word in technology. After all, Google Glass, judging by their characteristics, will be able to change our lives beyond recognition.

Let's figure out what kind of innovation of the future Google experts are offering us.

Technical characteristics of Google Glass glasses

The characteristics of Google Glass glasses leave all similar previous inventions behind. The glasses are quite equipped powerful processor, Wi-Fi modules and Bluetooth, 16 GB of memory, photo and video camera . Displayed image by Google Glass equivalent computer glasses 25 inch panel . They will soon not need headphones at all, since the sound will be transmitted through the bones of the skull, thanks to high frequency vibrations .

Video: Google Glass Glasses

Glasses understand voice commands and even gestures . With Google Glass glasses you can read texts, trust them to control your navigator, communicate in video chats and do online shopping. And this is far from full list capabilities of this device. In the photo of Google Glass glasses you can also appreciate their external compactness and fashionable design.

Google Glass smart glasses – what are they and do you need them?

Like all innovations, these glasses may initially cause consumer mistrust. Are they needed? , what new things can they bring to life and will they be useful, or will buying Google Voice simply result in a fairly large sum of money being thrown away?

We'll talk about additional features of this device , which will make the world around us as if written in special program for each of us.

Google voice as an eyewitness

You can use Google Glass glasses just like regular glasses anywhere - outdoors, indoors, and even while driving. Thanks to the webcam built into the glasses, you can Skype program show your interlocutors what is happening around you. At the same time, an effect of presence will be achieved that ordinary tablets, smartphones and gadgets cannot convey.

Thus, you can film some interesting events that you witnessed and immediately send them to the network. Naturally, you can also watch these videos with glasses. Google Voice live.

Part 1: getting to know the device, design, connecting to a smartphone and basic features

The brightest, most sensational gadget of last year was the Google Glass smart glasses. Perhaps not once since the release first iPad The IT industry was not so excited, and users were not so intrigued. True, the first batch of Google Glass before ordinary users didn’t arrive: the mysterious device was distributed among Google’s friends, leading American journalists and developers. The acute shortage, coupled with the innovation of this product, gave rise to a real cult around Google Glass: the first owners of the device who dared to come to the public event, immediately fell into a ring of curious people: everyone wanted to try on Google Glass or at least look at them live.

At the end of 2013, a new version of Google Glass appeared - 2.0 Explorer Edition. Its difference from the first version is the presence in the kit of a mono headset that connects to the glasses. Explorer version Edition was released in a wider circulation. In order to get it, you no longer need to have connections in Google, but, of course, this is still not a full-fledged sale, and the product is designed purely for enthusiasts.

You can get Google Glass within Explorer programs. To do this, you need to leave an application on the project website, providing information about yourself, and then wait for notification of your turn (this may take about a month or a little more). When it's your turn, you'll be asked to pay for the points ($1,500 + state tax). After making payment, you will be able to come to one of Google offices Glass in major American cities, where they will give you a device and show you how to use it.

There is another option: buy Google Glass from one of the resellers. In Russia, prices for “gray” Google Glass reach up to 90 thousand rubles. The situation may change in the second half of 2014, when Google Glass should appear on public sale. However, again, there is no information about whether the product will appear only in the US or in other regions too.

Finally, for now only April 15, 2014, Google is giving the opportunity to everyone, but only for one day. On the one hand, this news indicates the absence of an acute shortage of glasses and, perhaps, the imminent start of widespread sales, but on the other hand, it is clear that the audience for glasses is still enthusiasts, and Google is not yet counting on a wide audience. Simply put, we have before us a symbolic extension of the beta testing program (which, in fact, is the Explorer program).

We have timed this event, albeit local, but still detailed testing Google Glass. However, we viewed Google's revolutionary gadget not so much as a commercial product, in which the main thing is the ratio of functionality and price, but as a prototype that needs to be assessed not so much from the point of view of its current capabilities, but in the context of possible future prospects.

Let's look at the known specifications of the new product (note that Google does not disclose details, so relatively little is known). Specifications not taken from official Google resources are marked with an asterisk.

Technical characteristics of Google Glass Explorer 2.0

• SoC: TI OMAP 4430*
• CPU: two ARM Cortex-A9* cores
• Screen: an image projected onto the glass in front of the eye with a resolution of 640×360, similar in perception to a 25-inch HD screen located at a distance of 2.5 meters
• Camera: photo shooting - 5 MP, video shooting - 720p
• Wi-Fi: 802.11b/g 2.4 GHz
• Internal memory: 16 GB (12 GB available to user)
• Compatibility: devices on Android based 4.x and iOS 7.x
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, proximity sensor, light sensor
• Operating system: Android 4.0.4*
• Audio: microphone, bone conduction speaker
• Battery: Li-polymer 2.1 Wh*
• Weight 50 g

There is practically nothing to compare the device with - today it simply has no direct competitors, so we immediately move on to a face-to-face acquaintance with Google Glass.

Equipment

The glasses are supplied in a fairly large white cardboard box with a black bottom. Opening the lid, we will see Google Glass lying on a white cardboard form, where buttons and main elements are labeled with arrows pointing to the glasses.

Very smart and convenient! As a matter of fact, this is the only “help” that exists in physical form. There is also a leaflet with an FAQ inside, but in general the approach is similar to Apple: the user must figure everything out himself, and if that doesn’t work, then he must look for guidance on the Internet.

Under the white form there is a microfiber case, into which a cardboard is inserted with a headset attached to one ear.

The presence of this headset is the main difference between the second Google versions Glass from the first. The headset connects to the Micro-USB connector. What’s interesting is that the headset wire is not wrapped in silicone, as usual, but rather a thin cord is threaded through it. Moreover, the cord has a reserve length (the excess is hidden at the base of the earphone). In this way, the length of the wire can be adjusted.

The microfiber case itself can be used to carry glasses, although this should still be done with great care.

At the bottom of the box we see a Micro-USB - USB cable for connecting to a computer and a charger, the charger itself is 5V 1A (of course, with American fork) and a white envelope.

The envelope contains spare silicone nose pads (4 pieces), as well as a folded leaflet with answers to questions (mostly questions like “Can I wear Google Glass everywhere?” or “Can I ride a motorcycle wearing Google Glass?”) .

In addition to the large box, we also received a small oblong box that contained sun lenses that can be attached to Google Glass. When purchasing glasses from Google, you have several lens options to choose from.

The lenses are attached using nose pads that wrap around their base. In a similar way, you can try using Google Glass with other glasses.

Design

Google glasses are very sleek and compact. It cannot be said that they are beautiful in themselves and make one want to own their appearance, but they certainly do not cause any rejection, and on a person they look like a futuristic accessory that fits perfectly into any style of clothing.

No wonder Diane von Furstenberg used Google Glass in her show at New York Fashion Week.

The glasses body consists of two parts. The first is a solid rim, due to which the glasses are held on the user’s head.

The inner side of the headband, in contact with the skin, is plastic (hard, smooth matte plastic), the outer side is metal, which has a positive effect on both appearance and durability (yet the gadget still gives the impression of being quite fragile).

From the metal part of the rim extend two metal nose pads with tips made of transparent silicone, with the help of which the glasses are held on the user’s nose.

The rim of the glasses is asymmetrical: its left end (if you wear glasses) is thin, and the right end turns into a large plastic block, inside of which part of the electronic filling is located.

This unit is located behind the user's right ear when the glasses are worn. It has a bone conduction speaker (sound is transmitted through the bones of the skull in the form of vibrations) and it looks like a button labeled Glass. But in fact, this button does not involve pressing it (when the glasses are on, this is difficult to do).

Another button - now metal and requiring pressing, is located on the top of the rim, above the right eye. Using this button, you can take a photo with the built-in camera. However, there are more convenient ways to take a picture (we will talk about them later).

When the user puts on glasses, he has a prism in front of his right eye onto which an image is projected. When we turn on the glasses for the first time, we are asked to adjust the placement of the glasses on the head and the position of the head so that we see the entire picture and clearly enough.

The head bends slightly, a few degrees, but this is quite enough to find the optimal position relative to the eye. And the sensor is on inside The folding head can record eye movements, such as blinking.

You get used to the screen quite quickly, and it even creates the illusion that you see it with both eyes, but in fact the image is only in front of one eye. And therefore, you have an increased load on your right eye.

In general, the design of Google Glass is impressive not so much in its appearance (although that too), but in the concentration of engineering ideas. A projected mini-image, a speaker that transmits sound through the skull bones, a built-in camera, an eye sensor... This is truly a glimpse into the future.

Smartphone pairing and MyGlass app

The glasses connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth. For Google work Glass needs to install the MyGlass app from Apple App Store(devices with iOS 7 are supported) or Google Play Store(requires a smartphone based on Google Android 4.x). Since Google Glass is officially sold only in the United States, an American account is required in the App Store. If you don't have it, you can get it as follows. Select the USA as the country in the store settings, find MyGlass, click on install, then register, indicating some American address (use Google Maps). Since the application is free, you don’t have to enter credit card information (in the case of paid applications, it is credit card information that is the main stumbling block, since Russian cards cannot be used here). We tested Google Glass specifically with the iPhone application.

Let's see what the application interface is like. To see the application menu, you need to click on the icon in the upper left corner or swipe from the left edge of the screen. The first menu item is Device. It is open by default. Here we see the device name, model number, connection status with the smartphone (connected or not), time and location (on the map) of the last connection. At the bottom is the Add WiFi Network item. It is needed to connect the glasses to a Wi-Fi network.

This is done as follows. Click on Add Wifi Network and select available Wi-Fi network and see the QR code. Next, you need to go to Settings / WiFi / Add Network in the glasses menu and look at the QR code on your smartphone.

If the glasses and smartphone are connected via Bluetooth and connected to the same Wi-Fi network, then the Screencast feature becomes active, that is, duplicating the image from the glasses screen to the smartphone screen. This is what allowed us to take screenshots of the software interface of the glasses themselves. But let's return to the iPhone application. The next menu item is Contacts.

Here you can add contacts from your smartphone that you would like to make available on your glasses. I'm not sure why the glasses can't automatically use all the contacts in my Google account and have to be added manually. But for now the situation is like this.

Let's move on. Active Glassware is the applications that are installed on your glasses. And, accordingly, Glassware Gallery is a catalog of applications. At the time of writing, there were just over fifty of them. These are all the main services of Google (Gmail, Google+, Hangouts, Google Play Music, etc.), Facebook, Twitter, Evernote, Tumblr, Path and other (mostly well-known) projects.

In order to add an application to your glasses, just go to the application card and move the switch from Off to On. The application will appear on Google Glass in a second or two.

The last menu item - Help - is clear, as for Screencast - this was mentioned above. Finishing the conversation about the application, we note that while its interaction with glasses is very limited, the potential here is enormous. But, apparently, Google assumes that developers will create applications not only for glasses, but also for smartphones, allowing them to exchange some information with glasses (for example, transfer data about the route traveled during the day, photos taken and video, in general - you can come up with a lot more here.

Google Glass controls and functionality

So, what can Google Glass do and how to use it? By pressing the small power button on the inside of the right temple and putting on the glasses, we will see instructions teaching how to use the gadget. There are two main control methods: voice commands and touching the touchpad on the outside of the right earcup (three types of gestures are supported: swiping back and forth, swiping from top to bottom, and short touches).

The start screen shows the time and communicates the basic voice command with which any interaction with the glasses begins: ok glass. Having said it, we will be taken to a menu where we can choose one of the actions: launch Google Now, take a photo, take a video, get directions, send a message or make a call.

Having launched Google Now, we can interact with it in much the same way as with Siri, that is, ask questions in any form and receive answers to them.

For example, How old is Barack Obama?

Needless to say, it is only supported English language. The same as in the Google Glass interface. And often this becomes a stumbling block. For example, the command record a video was successful for me and my colleagues only in about 40% of cases (even after intensive pronunciation training), while the command take a picture was always recognized accurately. But let's move on.

The take a picture command allows you to take a photo using the camera, and the record a video command allows you to start recording a video. At the same time, the video is recorded for only 10 seconds, but if you touch the touch panel, the video will be recorded until you stop it (with the ok glass command) or until the memory/battery runs out.

To the possibilities of shooting with using Google Glass we'll be back.

The next menu item is get direction. Planning a route c using Google Maps is a curious and promising thing, but here and now it is less convenient and useful than a similar function on a smartphone/tablet.

There are two modes available here: navigation and overview of the entire route. The second mode is of little use, since you simply will not be able to see any details. Imagine that you have a route from the Moscow Ring Road to the center of Moscow. You just see a long curved line, and it is not clear which streets it goes through (on a smartphone you can enlarge any fragment, and the resolution of modern flagship smartphones allows you to display much more detail).

As for the navigation mode, this is an extremely promising thing, but in the current implementation it does not greatly outperform a conventional navigator and, rather, loses.

There is a problem both hardware and software. The hardware problem is that the screen is not directly in front of both eyes, but slightly above the right eye. Therefore, you need to shift your gaze to him. Therefore, if you are driving, you will not be able to simultaneously monitor the road and look at the screen. In order to correct this situation, it is necessary to place the screen directly in front of the user's eyes. In this case, the user will always look through the glass. Well, then it’s clear: the picture with navigation icons (arrows, warnings) should be superimposed directly on the real road. This is an augmented reality technology that is already quite widespread, but has not yet reached the mass consumer. It is assumed that augmented reality technology will be one of the trump cards of Google Glass, but this is not yet the case.

Rounding out the list of basic Google Glass features are phone functions. You can call, receive a call or send an SMS message (the latter only works on Android).

However, there were problems here too. If your contact's name is written in Russian, you will not be able to call him or send an SMS, since the system does not recognize Russian speech, and there are no other ways to select the desired subscriber.

We also note that the audibility of the interlocutor during a conversation is not bad, but the interlocutor does not hear you very well, the sound is like from a barrel. As for text messages, without the ability to correct what is written, this seems to be a very risky way of communication.

Management during telephone conversation carried out using the touch panel.

In conclusion, we invite you to watch our video review of Google Glass 2.0 Explorer Edition:

In the second part of the article, we will study the settings of Google Glass, consider the possibilities of taking photos and videos, and also summarize and reflect on the future prospects of this class of devices.

You've already seen the video review from Wylsacom Google Glass. I think that anyone interested in technology needs no introduction to Google Glass. After the impressive presentation of this device, to put it mildly, at the Google I/O conference last year (with skydivers, cyclists and Sergey Brin personally, which the author was lucky enough to attend), Google put a lot of effort into popularizing it. The unusual nature of the device itself, the general expectation of the next revolution in the field of mobile devices (for which Glass immediately became a contender), and the “One of the best inventions of 2012” award from the prestigious Time magazine helped. There is no need to introduce Glass even to people who are not interested in technology - many saw it on television, someone read about it in a newspaper/magazine/Internet, someone just heard something about it from someone else, and many are simply interested, what is that thing on your head and they come up and ask.

To develop the Glass ecosystem, Google created the Glass Explorers developer program. A special batch of device prototypes was produced for the program, which could be purchased for $1,500. The program was only open to developers living and working in the United States and not planning to use Glass prototypes for commercial purposes. To participate in the program, you had to apply for I/O 2012 (which the author did) or earlier this year write an idea for an application or feature that the developer planned to implement on Glass. Google reviewed applications and notified the developer if he was accepted into the program, after which he could pay and pick up the device from one of Google’s offices (which the author did) or ask for it to be sent by mail.

When purchasing, you must select a color. There are five options - white (Cotton), blue (Sky), orange (tangerine), gray (shale) and black (coal).

So, we eagerly open the box and find in it... Glass:

We carefully take it out of the box and begin to twirl it in our hands and examine it. The device is a durable and lightweight titanium arch, to which are attached the nose supports and a computing module on the right side.

The first thing that catches your eye is the most unusual detail - the prismatic screen at the front of the device. There was a camera next to him.

On the inside, behind the camera, there is a proximity sensor and a camera that tracks the movement of the eyelids and eyeball.

And on top is the camera shutter button.

An elongated plastic module stretching from the temple to the ear contains the main computing part - motherboard, processor, memory, communication modules, etc. Its outer surface is a touchpad. And on the inside, near the ear, there is a power button.

On the bottom surface, under the button - standard micro USB socket for power supply and connection to a computer.

The back of the device, which is located behind the ear when the device is worn on the head, contains a battery and a special loudspeaker that “projects” sound directly into the inner ear by vibrating the cranial bone.

We put Glass aside and see what else is in the box. We lift the cardboard on which the Glass was lying, and under it we find a 1000 MAh charger, a two-color microUSB cable and spare nose pads.

The MicroUSB plug is bent at the end by 90 degrees and can be used as a kind of “stand” for Glass.

Also, in addition to the box with Glass, you will be given two boxes with fastened “glasses” - a transparent “protective” one and a dark “sun-protective” one.

Dark lenses (by the way, they are polarized) turn Glass into very stylish sunglasses.

In each box you will find a case - for Glass and for glass. The case for Glass is quite interesting - it is a double pouch with a hard bottom and a neck that is tightened with a string: Glass fits comfortably in a soft inner pouch, and the prism is reliably protected by the hard bottom. In the Glass case, you can safely carry it in a bag or backpack without fear of damaging it.

No matter how much we would like to, we cannot immediately put Glass on our heads and start playing with it. Before this, Glass must be “linked” to your Gmail account and done presets, and for this we need a smartphone (or tablet) and the MyGlass application. Download the application from Google Play and launch it.

MyGlass can do a little, but we don’t need much. With it we can:

“Pair” Glass with a smartphone via Bluetooth (we’ll do this right away)

Tune account gmail on Glass. If there are several of them, the application will ask you to select one of them. (we will also do this right away)

Set up a connection to WiFi networks on Glass. (it would also be good to do this right away)

Add/remove contacts on Glass (we don’t need this right away)

Enable/disable applications (this can also be done for later)

Determine the location of Glass (I hope this is only needed for demonstration)

See what the Glass screen shows, which is called screencast (but this is a very useful feature that really helps demonstrate the capabilities of Glass)

Putting Glass on your head

Finally, we put Glass on our head and... And again we can’t start playing with it right away, because we need to “adjust” it a little to suit ourselves. This is not a smartphone, where “customization” consists of choosing a smartphone in a store based on the principle of “fitting in your hand,” and not a watch, where you just need to tighten the strap. It’s a little more complicated here, since the shape of the head, the distance between the eyes, the location of the eyes in relation to the temple and bridge of the nose are different for everyone, and to make Glass sit comfortably on the head and its screen is clearly visible - the process is a little more complicated than tightening the strap . Fortunately, this only needs to be done once, and the task is quite achievable. One of the reasons why Google was highly recommended to take Glass from their office was precisely the “customization” with which they could help special people. (The author, naturally, did not miss the opportunity to joke later that he had to figure it out by changing the shape of the skull.) To adjust, you need to bend the arms of the nose supports and rotate the prism (it is on a hinge), ensuring that the rosary is visible in all corners of the picture. After a few minutes of fiddling (in my case), Glass is ready to use.

The fitted Glass sits very comfortably on the head. We must pay tribute to the designers - despite the fact that the right side of Glass is heavier than the left (the entire computing module is there), Glass sits very balanced on the head, no “weight to the right” is felt. Glass also stays on the head very firmly - the author did cartwheels, and roundhouse kicks while jumping, and somersaults, and fell backwards, and all this with Glass on his head, and Glass not only did not fall off, but did not even move. And yet he didn’t even sting.

The prism display sits directly above the right eye without blocking your direct view. You can talk completely calmly while looking at your interlocutor, and he will see that you are looking at him and not at the screen. To look at the screen, you just need to lift your eyes up, and you will see a picture hanging in the air - much like looking in the rear-view mirror in a car. The eye focuses on the picture in a relaxed manner, despite the fact that the screen is not a couple of centimeters from the eye. For physics buffs, let me remind you that in a relaxed state the eye focuses at a distance of 25 cm. This means that the optics in Glass “pack” this 25 cm optical path inside the prism, most likely through multiple reflections. This is not an easy task, and therefore it is worth expressing respect to the engineers who created this display.

What Glass can do

Glass really likes to fall asleep, in order to save battery - three seconds of inactivity, and the display will turn off. While we were fiddling with him, adjusting him, he probably fell asleep. We touch the touchpad to wake it up. The screen turns on and we see the following picture:

This is the main Glass screen. Here we can move back and forth on the touchpad and see that the Glass interface is a horizontal row of “screens” called “cards,” just like Google Now. By left side“service” cards are lined up from the main screen - cards Google glasses Now (weather, information about local establishments, traffic jams on the way home) and Settings cards. On the right side are the results of recent operations in reverse chronological order (photos, searches, etc.).

The list of cards supports “kinetic” scrolling - if you move the touchpad back and forth not slowly, but quickly, you can jump through the list not to the next card...

And far forward or backward.

Using these commands we can:

- "Google" something

Take a photo

Make a video

Start navigation

Send message

Call

Launch a hangout

If there is an ellipsis after a command, this means that after pronouncing the command you will need to say “introductory information” for it. For example, in order to Google, you need to say what exactly to Google, or if you need to go somewhere, you need to say where exactly you need to go.

For example, let's ask Glass to Google who the current president of Russia is. Glass will not only tell us who it is, but will also tell us many interesting details about him.

Hands-free photography is one of the most impressive features of Glass, and one that doesn't give anyone a wow effect.

Shooting a video “without hands”, and even in motion, and even in a jump, and even in a turn, does not leave anyone indifferent. By default, the video duration is limited to 10 seconds, but the limit can be removed in the menu during the shooting process and shoot until you run out of space. internal flash drive or the battery will run out. Here are some examples of videos shot with Glass.

Navigation using Glass is extremely convenient. He told Glass where to go - he would look for this place on the map, and if he found a suitable place, he would immediately take him there. If there are a lot of search results (for example, there are a lot of Starbucks nearby), it will show a list from which you can choose where to go. If you find some item in your phone (in Maps app, let’s say) and we want to get there, then the MyGlass application registers as a navigator, and with its help, the destination can be “sent” to Glass and automatically begin navigation to it.

On the navigation card you can call up a menu where you can:

View route

Change your mode of transportation (car, bike, walk)

Exit navigation mode

Driving in Glass is convenient. The screen does not block the view of the road, it sleeps between warnings about maneuvers, and it is very easy to understand what maneuver needs to be done - just raise your eyes for a second, like looking in the rearview mirror. Very unobtrusive. If you need to look at something (for example, how long to go until the next maneuver), and the screen is turned off, then you just need to touch the touchpad. Glass will wake up, show a navigation map with the current status and fall asleep after three seconds.

You can send messages and make calls with Glass only to a limited list of contacts (10 maximum), something like “emergency” contacts on your phone. This was done in this way, apparently, to limit the time it takes to search for a contact in Glass, which can distract you from... say, the road for some time. This list is independent from the contact list on your phone - you can still use thousands of contacts there.

To send a message, you need to say the name of the person to whom the message is intended, and then dictate the message. Moreover, it is quite possible to dictate punctuation marks; Glass will recognize them and insert them into the text. You cannot pause - if there is two seconds of silence, Glass will send a message. If the contact has a mobile phone number, the message will be sent as an SMS; if the contact does not have a number, then as an email.

At phone call Glass turns into bluetooth headset. But cool, with a screen that shows the duration of the conversation. Moreover, it is not necessary to make a call from Glass; you can make a call from your phone or receive a call - the sound will still come through Glass.

Hangout (Google's analogue of video chat) works rather crookedly - the call does not always come to Glass, even if it came to the phone. But the feature itself is very suitable for Glass - show your friends live what you see. It’s not for nothing that it was used during the first presentation of Glass at I/O 2011, with an airship, paratroopers, cyclists and more. The author was present at this event and can confirm that by the end of the presentation there were no articulate (as well as censored) words left in the audience.

Applications

So far, Google only offers the Mirror API for development, which is used to create web applications called Glassware. Such applications can only send cards through Google servers to Glass. This may be suitable for applications that need to send the user some kind of notification from time to time (for example, mensions on Twitter, or current news), but it is not suitable for something more serious (for example, augmented reality)

Google themselves offer several Glassware applications:

In addition to Google themselves, several well-known companies have already made their applications for Glass based on the Mirror API:

New York Times

But for more serious things, you need the ability to create native applications. Google also understands this very well, which is why, although they have not yet presented an official SDK for Glass, they have left a loophole - in the Glass settings you can enable debugging mode and develop applications simply standard Android SDK. But it is still difficult to distribute such applications - there is no Play Store support on Glass, and the Glass launcher does not show Android applications, only cards. But knowing the history of SDK/NDK development on different platforms, as well as the audience that has gathered around Glass, we can look to the future with hope. Moreover, at the last I/O the guys from Google mentioned that they were going to publish the Glass Development Kit (GDK) - a toolkit for developing Android applications for Glass, which gives reason to assume that since they give a tool and ask to make applications, they will give a way distribute these applications.

But Google didn't stop with debug mode. Glass has a bootloader installed with the ability to unlock (fastboot oem unlock), and at the last I|O there was a session on how to root Glass, and even a rooted boot.img was posted for those who like to play around at the platform level. Factory firmware options were also promised, in case someone gets too carried away with modding and drives Glass into a boot loop or another similar mode. (The author secretly hopes that someday the source code for the firmware for Glass will also appear for those who like to make custom ones.)

So what now? Is Glass the future?

I get asked this question very often. About as often as “Wow, you’re wearing Glass. How do you like it?” And my answer to both questions is very simple - “I don’t know.” And if the answer to the second question changes (I’m getting used to it), then with the first question it’s still unclear. And not only to me, but also to Google, and numerous analysts, and the entire geek community. But let's not try to predict the future, but simply weigh the pros and cons and try to understand what obstacles Glass needs to overcome to have a chance of commercial success.

Obstacle one - battery life

A stereotypical problem with Android devices, aggravated by the fact that a larger battery (and, accordingly, capacity) cannot be used on Glass. On at the moment Glass works for 3-4 hours with fairly economical use. Intensive use of navigation and video shooting completely drains the battery in less than an hour. Of course, it is possible to charge Glass worn on your head, but it requires a certain “thick skin” from the owner. Google understands this problem and is trying to solve it. For example, the latest firmware update (XE6) has greatly improved battery life. The question is what will happen when all possible optimizations for power consumption in the firmware are made and the lifetime of Glass from one charge rests on the physical limitation of the battery capacity. Will the achievable maximum be enough to work comfortably during the day?

Obstacle two - opportunities

Obviously, without being tied to Google services, Glass would simply be a wearable camera without voice control. And that the ability to navigate, voice control, voice dialing, hangouts, etc. transform Glass into something completely different. The question is, are these opportunities enough for commercial success? I think the answer is obvious - no. It is obvious to Google too. They understand better than anyone the importance of an ecosystem and an expanding set of capabilities in the success of a product. Hence the choice of Android as the OS for Glass (it’s easy to port existing applications from smartphones), and plans to develop GDK, and the Glass Explorers developer program itself, thanks to which this review was written. Apparently, there is no need to worry about overcoming this obstacle - there is great interest in Glass among developers. Many companies, small and large, have announced that they have begun developing applications for Glass. We wish them success, since their success is a joy to us, the users.

The third obstacle is the price.

Glass's current price ($1,500) is only available to very dedicated enthusiasts or companies. Google understands this and promises a commercial version of Glass at a price “comparable to the price of smartphones.” Let's assume that this price lies in the region of flagship prices ($550-650), which is quite high for a non-independent device (someone might even call Glass a “sophisticated headset” and would not be far from the truth), but it may well be justified if By the time of release, Glass will have a sufficient number of features and applications.

Obstacle four (unexpected) - fashion

Yes, yes, exactly fashion. Unlike other types of wearable electronics (watches, bracelets, etc.), Glass is a very noticeable thing and is worn on the face. Not everyone will agree to wear an incomprehensible-looking thing on their face, and even talk to it. It's one thing for a geeky friend to show it to you, but it's a completely different thing for you to wear it on the street and everyone stares at you. And if for watches to be stuffed with electronic features is cool and familiar (for many years now), then the same for glasses is still a novelty. And whether these features are worth the risk of looking stupid in the eyes of strangers is a question that many will ask themselves before buying Glass. Of all the obstacles on Glass's path to success, this is perhaps the most difficult. The rest are more controllable in nature and can be solved with human resources and/or money. But fashion and human inclinations are quite uncontrollable things. It is very difficult to be a trendsetter. Google is trying to do at least something to make the appearance of people wearing Glass become familiar (and even attractive) to the average eye - beautiful “glossy” photographs of models wearing Glass are published, Glass appears in popular television programs, and is increasingly seen on the streets of big cities. people in Glass. But this does not guarantee success, although it helps. And one successful parody or stupid photo can negate all the successes of a PR campaign and turn the perception of Glass from “stylish” to “stupid”.

Judging by the way things are developing now, Glass has a real chance of commercial success. Maybe not for everyone, but certainly for young, tech-savvy people. It is unlikely that children will give Glass to their parents, but on the contrary, it is quite possible. Moreover, behind them is the power of Google and the personal interest of Sergei Brin. But even if Glass doesn't become mainstream, it will spark a revolution in the way wearable computing is perceived - after it, the idea of ​​a head-worn computer will no longer be something out of the ordinary.

About the author: Izzat Bakhadyrov (@oshpaz) Candidate of Technical Sciences, programmer, inventor. I work as an engineer in the research department of Samsung Mobile. I write mainly for Android. I carry at least three with me different devices on at least two mobile operating systems that I use daily.

Modern world high technology It’s simply replete with all kinds of devices that are being developed to simplify people’s lives. They allow you to solve a lot of problems in everyday life. At the same time, with the least amount of time and effort. One such device is Google Glass. These are not ordinary glasses. Besides modern design and decorative functions they have a number of possibilities. They will be discussed in this article. So, Google Glass, what is it?

1. What is Google Glass

These are new generation glasses, the brainchild of Project Glass Google. In simple words, this is a mini-computer that is built into the frame of glasses. This solution allows you to wear it on your head, so users can take it with them always and everywhere.

The main goal of creating such a device is to make an everyday companion for the user who will always be nearby. This will make a person's life easier by performing a number of tasks.

For example, one of the main functions is a navigator, which will allow you to find the most optimal route to your destination in a matter of seconds. In addition, glasses can serve as an assistant in business, reminding you of important meetings, dates, and so on.

The main advantage of such a device, compared to a computer, laptop or tablet, is that it does not need to be taken out and turned on to perform any task. Simply ask required action and in a few seconds it will do everything. We'll look at how this works further.

So, the answer to the question, Google Glass, what is it - it is a real mini-computer that is always with the user. At the same time, it performs a decorative function, since these are glasses. Moreover, the user has the option of inserting sun protection or clear lenses to choose from. Let's take a closer look at the technical characteristics and main functions of the device.

1.2. Google Glass Specifications

This device has impressive parameters that are comparable to modern smartphones, such as, for example, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. So, the technical parameters of the device:

• Processor Dual Core TI OMAP 4430 SoC;
• RAM – 1 GB, but only 680 MB is available;
• Built-in physical memory for storing files – 16 GB, of which 12 GB are available;
• Display type – prism projector with LCD screen;
• Screen resolution 640x360;
• Cameras – 5 megapixels (video recording in HD 720p format);
• Sound – bone-to-wire transducer;
• There is a touchpad on the handle for manual control;
• Built-in Wi-Fi model 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth;
• Built-in sensors - accelerometer, rotation vector, linear accelerator, light sensor, gravity sensor, spatial orientation, proximity sensor, magnetometer, gyroscope;
• Operating system Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich.

1.3. Google Glass features

Gul Glass glasses literally came to us from the future, from science fiction films and books. A high-tech invention opens a new era of removable interactive technology. The user can start shooting a video or take a photo on the go, without taking out a smartphone or camera, simply by dictating the desired command. Moreover, right on the go, you can dictate and send a text message, launch a navigator or search engine.

Without exaggeration, such a device has simply a huge number of functions. It is simply impossible to describe them all. But we can highlight several of the most important and frequently used tasks of Google Glass.

1.3.1. An easy and fast way to take photos and videos

Probably one of the main functions of such a device is precisely the easy shooting of videos and photos. To begin, the user just needs to say the phrase “okay Glass”, after which the device is activated and you can set any task. For example, to shoot a video you need to say “record video”, and in order to take a photo you need to say “take a picture”. As you can see, everything is extremely simple.

In addition, carriers can provide photos and videos to their friends, giving them access to files that are synchronized with cloud storage. It is worth noting that to perform all these tasks you do not need your hands at all; everything is done using voice control or special gestures, which you can also set yourself.

1.3.2. Navigation by Google Glass

In the modern rhythm of life, navigation performs one of the main tasks. After all, it is not always easy to find the desired object, be it a building, an enterprise, a street or a factory. Moreover, Google has gone further, now required map is right in front of your eyes without interfering with your view.

Thus, at any time the user can check the map and find the desired object as easily and quickly as possible. It's worth noting that Google Maps has a compass that points the user's direction. Moreover, the navigator provides voice prompts, guiding you on the right path.

2. Google Glass Review: Video

2.1.1. Voice translator

Another very useful feature- This voice translator. At any time, the glasses wearer can ask, for example, how to translate the phrase “how to find a cafe” into German. Within a few seconds, the glasses will translate the desired phrase into the specified language. Moreover, the list of languages ​​is quite large.

In addition to these functions, users can chat, share files, set reminders, and perform an unlimited number of actions using Google Glass.

2.2. Applications for Google Glass

Like a smartphone, Google Glass supports third party applications, in addition to those already initially provided by the company. The only thing is that to install applications you will need to synchronize your device with your smartphone. This can be done extremely simply using the My Glass program. After this, you can install almost any application.

It is worth noting that the prospects for Google Glass are very great and far-sighted, so today many craftsmen are developing the most different applications for the device.

– this is the so-called headset (glasses) additional reality(or wearable computer) for smartphones based on Android and iOS, developed by Google.

Google Glass features

Google Glass allows you to navigate around the area, take photos and videos, communicate through social media and chats, and even buy goods online. The Google Glass concept should ultimately implement three separate functions simultaneously, bringing them together: augmented reality, mobile communications plus the Internet, and lifelogging.

Google Glass understands voice commands, touchpad navigation gestures, some commands are performed by tilting the head, shaking, etc., using the capabilities of the accelerometer and gyroscope. For maximum convenience, glasses have various nose pad options that allow you to take into account the anatomical features of the device owner.

Glasses design Google Glass

The glasses are based on powerful processor, microphone, transparent display, camera with gyroscope and touchpad, all this is attached to the temple of the glasses. The display is located just above the right eye, its resolution is 640×360 pixels, while the picture itself looks as if viewed on a 25-inch HD monitor from a distance of 2.4 meters. The camera is equipped with a 5 megapixel sensor high quality, which allows you to shoot HD video, the sound is transmitted directly through the bones of the skull. Communication with the network and other devices is provided by modules wireless communication Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. Google Glass allows the user to store personal information directly inside the device, for this there is 16 GB internal memory, of which 12 GB are available to the owner of the glasses; in addition, synchronization with cloud service Google, where you can use another 4 GB of memory. Capacity battery is still unknown, but the manufacturer himself states that the glasses will be able to work for a day without recharging, although if the user shoots video, this time will decrease somewhat. There is a microUSB interface for recharging the glasses.

Synchronization with smartphones is provided Bluetooth module, through a proprietary application, Google Glass glasses support mobile devices with installed operating system Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich and higher.

How Google Glass works

The glasses begin to work voice command"Ok, Glass", followed by a request to perform some function. At the moment, glasses already allow you to work with such programs as Google Now, Google Maps, Google+, Gmail, Evernote, Skitch, New York Times, Path.

History of glasses

Testing of Google Glass began in April 2012, the first information about them was received by The New York Times, they reported about the new product at the end of February 2012. The first test glasses (the Explorer Edition model) were presented at the Glass Foundry event in February 2013, at that time their cost was $1,500. The glasses will go on mass sale at the end of 2013, at a lower price.

Voice commands for controlling Google Glass glasses