Google Glasses: From First Looks to Parodies

Genuine Excitement followed by some TROLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!

Hooray for OLD NEWS! Still, the Google Glasses project (also called “Project Glass”) is definitely one of the most interesting and popular tech stories of the entire year, and we’re only about half-way through 2012.  For those unaware, Goggle Glasses is a research and development program from the “big G” — Google — to develop an hands-free augmented reality head-mounted display.  Sure, the first image to come to most people’s minds during the project’s reveal back in early April was Geordi La Forge from Star Trek: TNG (you know, LeVar Burton; Kunta Kinte/Toby Walker, Reading Rainbow anyone?), but the potential of what can become of this technology is mind-blowing, technically and creatively.  However, as with anything new, while new updates and images of the project at work are released, so will the amount of people to jump on board to make fun of it.  

The intended purpose of Project Glass products would be the hands free displaying of information available to most smartphone users, and allow  interaction with the Internet via voice commands, in a way which comparable to the “Siri” iPhone feature. The operating system software used in the glasses will be, of course, Google’s Android OS.  The Google Project Glass team working on this stated that they’re allowing the public to give & suggest ideas about what they really want from a set of Android-powered augmented reality specs.  It’s almost like being Iron Man without the “save the world” aspect, as you can answer your text messages, get updated on public transportation delays, and real-time weather forecasts.  It also doesn’t hurt that the glasses are certifiable nerdy.  Check out some photos both of and taken by the Google Glasses, as well as a couple of hilarious online parodies!

The official concept video from Google:

Google’s Sebastian Thrun on Charlie Rose on PBS

Google’s Sebastian Thrun playing with his son

Jim M. Goldstein of http://www.jmg-galleries.com
“They weren’t too heavy and they were very easy to wear. Considering what is packed into this small form factor it’s tough to believe how much functionality you actually get out of them. They include a camera, a heads-up screen to review photos and review augmented reality data tied to what you’re seeing and where you are (this later part was not seen nor tested). Unfortunately for me I’m left-eye dominant and the glasses were for a right-eye dominant person. For this reason to really see much I had to wince, closing my left eye.”

The CollegeHumor.com Parody:

The NMA.tv (Next Media Animation) Parody: