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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Google Glass isn't even out yet, and people are heralding the part-camera, part-mobile device as the future — a revolutionary product that will surely change the way we use (and view) technology.

But some vision specialists are worried the high-tech specs, which you'll be able to wear on your head, could lead to health issues, including eye strain, headaches and neck pain.

"While Google Glass is a brand new interactive heads-up display (HUD) technology, there are some things we can presume based on the information Google has released," said Dr. Nathan Bonilla-Warford, a VSP optometrist for Bright Eyes Family Vision.

"Consumers may experience a physiological impact while wearing these glasses, such as increased eye-strain and dry eyes from reduced blinking," he added. "This could ultimately cause headaches and neck pain and are the symptoms of computer vision syndrome or digital eye strain."

Most people who spend long hours in front of the computer or mobile devices know the discomfort associated with prolonged eyestrain. That could also be compounded by the fact that Google Glass will be extremely near the eye, increasing the chances of irritability.

"The glasses themselves are too close for the eyes to focus, so the display alters the light so that the perceived image is located up and to the side, about two feet away from the user," said Warford, adding that despite the effect, it will still cause straining.

A Google spokesperson told Mashable that the company has studied design comfort and safety very closely, and hasn't found a cause for concern. They said it plans to continue to watch this area carefully.

Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Ehrenhaus of New York Cornea Consultants believes eyestrain isn't going to be as much of a concern as the distraction it can cause users on the street.

"We still need to learn more about the technology and what exactly people will be seeing, but there may not be a lot of eye straining at all," Ehrenhaus said.

"The bigger issue is that you don't want to fall into a manhole while trying to look at an image in the glass."

Research has been conducted on pilots and drivers in the past reveal that when a person is mentally focused on the HUD, they are not paying attention to the world around them.

Warford agrees, noting clinical studies will eventually evaluate concentration factors, as well as visual skills and ocular physiology before and after extended use of Google Glasses to see its impact.

"For now, we can extrapolate what we know about visual processing of HUD data, the eye movements needed to use the glasses and the effects of prolonged digital screen usage," he added. "Consumers should also keep in mind the experience will not be like the original concept video or the holy-grail of augmented reality. It will be more like a phone you can see without having to hold."

What do you think about the possible health concerns surrounding Google Glass? Would you be nervous to give it a try or can you not wait to get your hands on it? Let us know in the comments.

Google Glass: How It Will Look"

OK, Glass..."

More than a catchphrase, "OK, Glass" is how the wearer will engage the headset, enabling it to listen to commands.



Taking a Photo

One of the most basic things Glass will be able to do is capture photos of whatever the wearer is looking at.



Recording Video

Similarly, the onboard camera will also be able to record videos.



Quick Communication

Here's how it'll look to receive a message.


Flight Alert

Location-based or timed alerts will appear on Glass like so.



Navigation

Showing maps based on the users point of view is potentially one of the most useful features of Google Glass.



Google+ Hangout

Glass will be able to share the wearer's POV via Google+ Hangout.



Brooklyn Bridge Query

The wearer can call search Google for answers to questions verbally.



Brooklyn Bridge Answer

Answers to queries appear similar to how voice search in Google Now works -- giving the user the one answer that they're looking for rather than a series of links.



Translation Query

Google envisions that fast translations of single words or phrases will be a common query for Google Glass.



Translation Answer

Here's how the answer will look, accompanied by an audio pronunciation.








































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