Can’t wait to get your hands on Google Glass? You might not have to wait much longer.
In an interview, Google Glass product director Steve Lee told The Verge that it plans to have a “fully-polished” version of Glass available for consumers by the end of 2013. Even better? Glass will be priced at less than $1500 when it goes on sale.
Google took orders for an Explorer Edition of Glass during its developer conference last year. Restricted to developers who were attending the conference, Google said at the time that the Explorer Edition would be $1500. It’s expected to be in developers' hands early this year.
The company opened up additional pre-orders for the device earlier this week, requiring those interested to tell Google “what you would do if you had Glass” on Twitter or Google+ using the hashtag #ifihadglass.
A patent for Glass made public this week showed that the company may have plans for more than one design of the unique device.
Are you looking forward to the release of Google Glass? Let us know what you would do #ifihadglass in the comments.
Photo by Pete Pachal, Mashable
Google Glass: The Patent
Google Glass, Alternate Design 1
Although Google Glass has been shown as an minimalist eyewear frame, Google suggested other designs in its patent, including this normal-looking pair of eyeglasses. Google says either lens could be used as the "projection system" and component 118 is the CPU.
Alternate Design 2
This take on Google Glass resembles cheap 3D glasses, but that's probably just a coincidence. The patent says elements 128 and 132 would be scanning lasers for projecting images and text right on the lenses.
Alternate Design 3
Although this is another full-lens design, it's closer to the current execution of Google Glass, with the active-display area confined to one part of one side of the wearer's field of view.
Frame Design
This design appears to be depicting Google Glass as it exists so far. Element 203 is the only "lens," which overlays computer graphics on the wearer's POV.
Network Schematic
This is a diagram of the computer network infrastructure for Google Glass. The actual device (Part 310) doesn't necessarily need to be a headset -- Google suggests a heads-up display in the patent. The connection to remote computing power (330) via a wireless connection (320) would be essential, and it could be achieved on the device or via a cellphone.
Google Glass Hardware
Here's more detail in how the hardware will be configured. Note how one of the arms contains all the electronics: Google describes elements 70, 72 and 76 as potentially touch-based inputs. Element 80 contains the battery, and 82 is a charging port.
Hardware, Alternate Angle
Another view of the hardware
Display Housing, Exploded View
This diagram gives more detail on the how the camera/display mechanism will work. The circular elements, (62, 66) could allow the wearer to rotate just the display.
Controls With Display Housing
Here are the touch controls (70, 72 and 76) close up. Element 68 is a hard button locking the device or engaging sleep mode.
Display Prism, Angle
This shows how the display will work when positioned at an angle to the center of the wearer's eye, as it is in the current version of the device.
Display Prism, Straight
Here, the display is at or close to a right angle to the wearer's vision, which Google says is for "optimal viewing."
Display Prism, Translational Positioning
This diagram shows how the wearer would be able to adjust the horizontal position of the prism (between P1 and P2 positions), so the display is aligned with the eye.
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