Topic: Google's Quest for World Dominance

[Shorty McNostril]

Too bad for those people who don't wear glasses.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I'm not sure what you mean by that, but they are supposedly working on a version that is part of your glasses, a version for people that don't wear glasses and a version for those what would prefer a contact lense.

Google's now testing its Project Glass augmented reality glasses, but it sounds like this is only the first step in its AR plans. One of the engineers on Project Glass, Babak Parviz, is an associate professor at the University of Washington who specializes in bionanotechnology and helped to create a single pixel contact lens display, which was recently tested on live animals. Obviously, a lot more than a single pixel will be needed for this technology to be useful, Google appears to have the right people in place to take augmented realty from glasses to lenses. We're years away from that being a reality, but it's something to look forward to if you think the Project Glass hardware is just a bit too obtrusive to wear on a day-to-day basis.

[SixthAngel]

Too bad for those people who don't wear glasses.

In the future everyone wears hipster glasses.

[nickmitch]

But only hipsters will wear them ironically.

[Shorty McNostril]

They should build this into those ridiculous shutter glasses.

[tendoboy1984]

Nothing wrong with Google. They built the most popular search engine, they have the world's best web browser (Chrome), they have the most popular smartphone OS (Android), they own the most popular user-submitted video site (Youtube). Google is indeed a dominant force in the internet industry, but that just gives them great brand-recognition.


Google Docs is better than Microsoft Office. Everything is saved online, and it's so easy to access from Google Chrome just by signing into your browser.


I tried Microsoft's SkyDrive and MS Office web apps. They're ok, but nothing beats Google's eye for simplicity and ease of use.


Now I'm kind of regretting my purchase of an iPod Touch. I like it, and I love how it syncs with iTunes, but Android is just so much more popular now, and all of Google's web apps integrate so well with it.


I should have bought a Samsung Galaxy Player (Android MP3 player that's competing with the iPod).

[tendoboy1984]

I'm not sure what you mean by that, but they are supposedly working on a version that is part of your glasses, a version for people that don't wear glasses and a version for those what would prefer a contact lense.

Google's now testing its Project Glass augmented reality glasses, but it sounds like this is only the first step in its AR plans. One of the engineers on Project Glass, Babak Parviz, is an associate professor at the University of Washington who specializes in bionanotechnology and helped to create a single pixel contact lens display, which was recently tested on live animals. Obviously, a lot more than a single pixel will be needed for this technology to be useful, Google appears to have the right people in place to take augmented realty from glasses to lenses. We're years away from that being a reality, but it's something to look forward to if you think the Project Glass hardware is just a bit too obtrusive to wear on a day-to-day basis.

I don't get the point of animal testing for vision-related products. I oppose most forms of animal testing in general. Wouldn't a human subject be a better candidate for vision testing, since humans can provide much better feedback?

[BlackNMild2k1]

I think they were trying to make sure that the lenses didn't physically damage the cornea of the eye and that the animal can still move around like normal while wearing the lenses.

[nickmitch]

Also, testing products on people is REALLY expensive. You need to be absolutely sure about a product before you get to that point.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Yeah, rabbits & rats won't go to the press and/or try to sue you for millions of dollars if something goes horrible wrong.

[TJ Spyke]

But when humans participate in studies, they usually sign a waiver giving up any rights to sue in case something goes wrong (even death).

[BlackNMild2k1]

but that won't stop them and/or their families from going to the press and making waves or seeking compensation.

[TJ Spyke]

Thatis where NDAs come in (which I am seeing in more test studies now), would they want to go to the press knowing they will then get sued and likely lose?

[BlackNMild2k1]

but the family didn't sign it. They may want to raise awareness after watching the effects on a loved one.

[MegaByte]

You can't sign away all rights in an agreement; some things wouldn't be enforceable in court no matter what the agreement said.

[Brandogg]

Don't tell SONY that...

[Stogi]

That's pretty sick and honestly easily feasible as we continue to scale down electronics.

What I'm hoping for though is more than just that.

It'd be sick if we could change our eye color on the fly, the tint on your glasses or even write words or scrolling sentences on them. That's not only cool, but it could be like, "You were invited to 'X' party." When I show up there, my eye color changes to a certain hue (or a bunch of hues) and they see that I've been invited.

Also, how about it saving all that we see in order to 'recall' something we may recognize or something that is similar; like, I know I've seen that girl before...but where? *Accessing* Or even better, remembering things we had forgotten. Like "Yo I gave you that last week!" ....Searching for last encounter with 'Joe'....Found one last week...Video loading..."Here you go bro. I'll see you in a week."..."****, I guess you did".

Also, could it scan my eyes to unlock everything I see? Like I look at my phone with the glasses/contacts on and it unlocks or I look at my car and it turns on, or my house or garage and it opens.

Also, this is just for contacts, but what can it display while my eyes are closed? Can I watch a movie? Or look at a visualizer while I listen to music?

[BlackNMild2k1]

Google Glass is back, and it's (supposedly) coming this year
http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/22/4013406/i-used-google-glass-its-the-future-with-monthly-updates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Tsrg_EQMw

I will definitely be more interested when they can bury it into a pair of sun/glasses so that it's not immediately noticeable that you are wearing it.

[TJ Spyke]

They already look fine, but there isn't a chance in hell I would pay $1,500 for it like they are charging. $100 is pretty much the max I would pay.

[Oblivion]

It's because these are custom made. Once they get a factory going and making these, they will undoubtedly go way down in price. $100 is way too little for this tech, though. The MetaWatch is $179 and does only a fraction of what GG does. I'd be willing to pay at least $500 for this tech.

[Stogi]

Yeah...I signed up for it and if I get it, I'm calling Daniel Tosh to pay me to make a video destroying it.