Google Expected To Unveil Smart-Phone Glasses This Year

If your smartphone and superhero fantasy had a love child, it might look something like the upcoming Google "Heads Up Display" glasses, which employees say will go on sale later this year.

The New York Times reports that the Android-based product will look like the popular surfer-style Oakley sunglasses, and include a mini-screen just an inch from your eyes. The glasses will monitor the world in real time, syncing nearby locations, friends, and navigation to your spectacles. With a 3G or 4G data connection, the product is going to be priced in the same range as smart phones, between $250 and $600.

The technology, which isn't meant to be used all the time, includes head tilting for scrollling and clicking, and a cloud for managing information via Google services like Google Maps and Google Latitude. In fact Latitude-creator Steve Lee is the mastermind behind the project, which is still under development in Google X, the company's secretive laboratory. Google co-founder Sergey Brin is also working with Lee for the launch.

The Times article also mentions that Google has already highlighted the privacy implications that come with a hidden, built-in camera and location recognition may pose a privacy issue.

Seth Weintraub of 9to5 Google, a site catering to Google news, writes that the company is still deciding how to market the product, which may have limited appeal.

From 9to5Google:

Although, the “Google Goggles” could use a phone’s Internet connection, through Wi-Fi or a low power Bluetooth 4.0.

The use-case is augmented reality that would tie into Google’s location services.  A user can walk around with information popping up and into display -Terminator-style- based on preferences, location and Google’s information.

If successful, the wearable technology may set a precedent–rumor has it that Apple is thinking along the same lines, but more like an iPhone watch than glasses.