Google Announces Testing for New Smart Glasses

If you follow tech trends, you may remember that nearly a decade ago Google released a pair of smart glasses (glasses that come with computer capabilities). These glasses, dubbed “Google Glass,” were available to only a limited number of people in 2013. By mid-April 2014, Google opened sales of the product to the general public.

Unfortunately, Google Glass was ultimately a failure for several reasons, including privacy concerns. As a result, Google halted production of the original Google Glass in January 2015.

In 2022, however, their smart glasses have gotten a major upgrade. This past May, Google began designing new augmented reality devices that look like regular eyeglasses. But these new-and-improved smart glasses can translate languages in real time, provide real-time data, and offer a slew of other cool features.

After months of designing, Google is now ready to start preliminary tests of their new smart glasses in the public sphere. Test areas will include public urban environments.

How is Google addressing privacy concerns with these latest smart glasses?

One of the main reasons the glasses failed in 2014 was due to privacy concerns. People didn’t exactly welcome the idea of being recording without their knowing at anytime and anywhere someone was wearing Google Glass. Google is now working to combat these concerns and win back some credibility.

During testing, both their photo and video capture capabilities will be disabled. If some kind of error occurs that activates the camera, an LED light comes on to alert people around them that a picture or video is being taken, just in case. The people being recorded could then at least request the smart glasses wearer to delete whatever photos or videos were taken.

As part of the new testing, Google smart glass testers also must delete any other sensitive information that may inadvertently be captured using the glasses.

Why might companies invest in smart glasses?

Smart glasses have a lot of potential benefits for a variety of industries. They could be used in surgical rooms to aid surgeons. Medical professionals could access medical details and collaborate with colleagues while wearing these glasses.

Smart glasses like the ones Google is testing could also be used to help train employees. Thanks to the device’s usage of augmented reality, the smart glasses can help illustrate theoretical situations or complex designs more easily than current methods.

Educators could also potentially use smart glasses in the classroom. For example, history teachers giving a lesson on the Egyptian pyramids could take students through a virtual tour of the structures.

Smart glasses could also enhance sporting event experiences, displaying scores and other information in real time.

Google’s smart glasses will also assist with communication and directions, such as menu translation or navigating to people’s destinations. If these features work properly, these smart glasses could eventually become part of many people’s everyday lives.

Google has competition from other producers of smart glasses

With the failure of Google Glass in recent memory, it comes as no surprise that Google wants to ensure their latest iteration of smart glasses really fits this time before putting it back on the market.

Similar augmented, virtual, and mixed-reality devices already exist though, including Microsoft’s HoloLens. HoloLens is already being used by companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Lockheed Martin, and Nox Innovations.

Only time will tell whether Google’s current prototype of smart glasses will develop into a household product. If it succeeds, it could even be a staple in the medical field, classroom, and other areas. As long as they’re really careful this time regarding privacy concerns, they should be able to enter the market soon and be available to the average consumer.