Google unveils Project Glass, next evolution of computers after tablets?
I’ve speculated about the next evolution of the computer before, and back then I discounted video glasses as something that is already technically possible, just needs to be shrunk down to where it’s actually practical. Google’s X division, which is basically the company’s crazy gadget division, has unveiled a new project they’re working on called Project Glass. The concept here is that existing technologies like location sharing, mobile device cameras, and voice commands get packed into a pair of video glasses that overlay a screen onto the world. The video does a good job of explaining the potential uses, so I won’t recap those.
This is still a bit away from market, in fact we’ll likely not see it in 2012. The concept is definitely interesting though, both in itself and with regards to implications for tablets. A few generations into products like those glasses and the need for a tablet or a phone on the side might suddenly disappear. Of course there are still lots of obstacles to overcome, ranging from things like battery life to simply looking stupid wearing them. I guess only time will tell whether or not tablets will go the way of the netbooks.
[Project Glass via All Things D]
