[Marius_]

But can I post to Facebook and Twitter

[luoapp]

Am I the only one who has absolutely zero interest in this?

Me neither. And I will laugh at whoever puts one on. Smartphone is good enough.

[Cipherr]

Keep pushing.


I want VR before I die of old age in 50 years or so. These motherfuckers aren't moving fast enough.

[Jasoneyu]

I love this tech but I am always afraid how dangerous augmented reality glasses would be in terms of environmental distraction. For instance, I can see people getting extremely distracted while using these devices and say walk in front of a car etc. It will be a good test to see how future designers will try to cope with visual distraction while designing functional HUDs.

[rezuth]

Oh god. I'm late to my favourite topic in the world. The funny thing about glasses... no one thinks they want to wear them... Until they can't see shit without them. Similarly, these HMD devices will start to enable a whole host of really compelling interesting applications - creating a augmented digital world around us. If you can't see this world without glasses... you're going to feel compelled to wear glasses. Of course, if they can manage to shrink these down to contacts, then, a lot of people are going to jump to those if they can. But the possibilities promised by this tech are game changing, and will despite the reservations of the glasses hating crowd, compel a large number of people to adopt wearing glasses - and that number will just go up as the technology becomes more refined; doing more, while becoming more stylish and usable. That said, Google for realz needs to develop camera based motion tech. Or license Kinect. Or work in conjunction with MS. Because voice and head tilt are not compelling methods of interaction. Without that, we'll have to resort to pulling out our phones to serve as the touchscreen that'll allow us to navigate through more complex menus and applications (as in pretty much everything else that isn't shown in their video).

I have worn glasses most of my life and I still see no need for the technology it's one of those things that sound great but will suck in practical use. No real way to input, annoying overlay on vision, clunky and so on.

The idea is cool but it's not going to work out.

[SteveWinwood]

Me neither. And I will laugh at whoever puts one on. Smartphone is good enough.

Man I am going to laugh so hard at people who use, what are they called again? Phones?

Telegrams. Don't need anything else.

[lunarworks]

Oh my god, that video...

And not in a good way.

Technology is turning us into helpless meat sacks.

[Toppot]

That said, Google for realz needs to develop camera based motion tech. Or license Kinect. Or work in conjunction with MS. Because voice and head tilt are not compelling methods of interaction. Without that, we'll have to resort to pulling out our phones to serve as the touchscreen that'll allow us to navigate through more complex menus and applications (as in pretty much everything else that isn't shown in their video). I'm actually writing a research(ed) essay on Augmented Reality right now. I'll post it up on GAF once its done. I'm sure it'll get its fair share of haters.

They just have to miniaturize eye tracking set-ups, which are already fairly small and head wearable.

And I would be very interested in reading your essay when it's done =] I've done my own draft essay on the future of technology like this, the future problems and implication for advertising/marketing.

[Marius_]

Man I am going to laugh so hard at people who use, what are they called again? Phones? Telegrams. Don't need anything else.

I laugh at people with iPads, I mean a laptop and a smartphone is all you need

[tfur]

Not just contacts, but superior methods of laser surgery without the complications associated with the procedure currently and other future refractive surgeries.

I agree that procedures like that are good for focal issues, but an essential "feature" of glasses is that I can remove them when I choose to.

I enjoy using a high quality glass lens sunglass, or using reading glasses, but I like the ability to let my eyes rest in their "natural" state.

[t26]

if they can add those functions to a normal glasses I would check it out

[Zaptruder]

I have worn glasses most of my life and I still see no need for the technology it's one of those things that sound great but will suck in practical use. No real way to input, annoying overlay on vision, clunky and so on. The idea is cool but it's not going to work out.

It'll suck until it stops sucking. Basically you're saying that it'll suck forever and that there's is no amount of improvement in function and form that'll get you to even consider it.

Which to me just seems blatantly closed minded. To be fair, the implementation shown in that video isn't particularly exciting to me either. Hopefully it'll evolve into something much more fully fleshed out before they get it to public.

[Divvy]

Anyways, they may be on the path to bringing this to contacts, so you anti-glasses people can stop fretting:

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.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/4/4/292...contact-lenses

[Demoncarnotaur]

The entire concept of this is incredibly cool and could really have some good use in certain fields, military being a primary example. That said, these could be an invaluable tool for different research teams, or other like jobs that require field work and throw you into unfamiliar situations. I would really like to see this go somewhere.

[jiji]

i miss NY

Hey, that's a block from my work.

[Divvy]

They should really have made a demo that showed off less consumer-end uses and more industrial uses or whatever. Like giving surgeons an interface that helps with surgeries or whatever.

[Kinyou]

I love this tech but I am always afraid how dangerous augmented reality glasses would be in terms of environmental distraction. For instance, I can see people getting extremely distracted while using these devices and say walk in front of a car etc. It will be a good test to see how future designers will try to cope with visual distraction while designing functional HUDs.

Damn it would suck if it would be forbidden to use one of those while driving. As someone who wears just normal glasses I'd constantly be pulled over.

[panda21]

i dont get it, the glasses bit is above their eyes in all the photos. how are you supposed to see it?

also in the video there are several times when they select options without apparently giving any kind of input

[big_z]

I can imagine the horrible things I could share live with these. Griefing would be take to another level.

[rezuth]

It'll suck until it stops sucking. Basically you're saying that it'll suck forever and that there's is no amount of improvement in function and form that'll get you to even consider it. Which to me just seems blatantly closed minded. To be fair, the implementation shown in that video isn't particularly exciting to me either. Hopefully it'll evolve into something much more fully fleshed out before they get it to public.

They may surprise me and be great but there comes a point where technology gets in the way rather than out of the way. I feel like this is such a time, where it will cause more issues than it will solve. I adore wearable technology but I hate obtrusive technology and right now this has done nothing to prove otherwise.

I approach stuff with trying to imagine how the product will work out in the real world and to me it does not look good.

Edit: I should clarify that I'm talking about the consumer product.

[Messypandas]

I love this tech but I am always afraid how dangerous augmented reality glasses would be in terms of environmental distraction. For instance, I can see people getting extremely distracted while using these devices and say walk in front of a car etc. It will be a good test to see how future designers will try to cope with visual distraction while designing functional HUDs.

This will be one of the first things accounted for. Google self driving cars already has a feature where every car in the vicinity is track on the system, i imagine something similar with this. The goggles will be aware so you don't have to

[MetatronM]

Yup, exactly what I thought of too. And so want.

[The Friendly Monster]

Man, have any of you even worn contacts? Wearing them all day long would cause me to go blind within a week.

What on earth, I wear contacts for a month at a time. So much more comfortable than glasses.

[Seraphinianus]

I've always wanted KOTOR style head gear.

[Zaptruder]

They should really have made a demo that showed off less consumer-end uses and more industrial uses or whatever. Like giving surgeons an interface that helps with surgeries or whatever.

But that's not where they're going with this technology.

And it kinda makes sense - to really take advantage of the innovation potential of these devices, you need them at a mass market point, available to consumers and all the bedroom developers.

[Bowdz]

If Bioware wants to destroy the ME universe we in reality will just have to create it ourselves (and by we I mean incredibly talented and forward thinking companies such as Google, Apple, SpaceX and others).

Kudos to Google for developing a truly sci piece of technology.

[rezuth]

What on earth, I wear contacts for a month at a time. So much more comfortable than glasses.

I can barely wear them for an hour, it's different for different people :)

[DoctorWho]

I think these are trying to do too much. Talking to yourself is going to make people uncomfortable on the street. It's not like the bluetooth headsets because you're actually talking to yourself or dictating a message. It will sound unnatural compared to talking on a bluetooth headset.

I love the idea of augmented reality but the implementation needs work. I'm not going to want to send a text message with my voice because that just makes it a voice message.

[AbortedWalrusFetus]

They should really have made a demo that showed off less consumer-end uses and more industrial uses or whatever. Like giving surgeons an interface that helps with surgeries or whatever.

Or at least more practical consumer end stuff. Like driving enhancements/safety enhancements, object tracking and location, etc. Needs way less social media.

But that's not where they're going with this technology. And it kinda makes sense - to really take advantage of the innovation potential of these devices, you need them at a mass market point, available to consumers and all the bedroom developers.

I don't know that that is true. You can fund the technology development if you get some big businesses on board. Business will put up with clunky interfaces and equipment way before the average consumer will. Factory workers can be mandated to wear ugly glasses if it makes their jobs more efficient and safer, but no end consumer is going to.

[Zaptruder]

They may surprise me and be great but there comes a point where technology gets in the way rather than out of the way. I feel like this is such a time, where it will cause more issues than it will solve. I adore wearable technology but I hate obtrusive technology and right now this has done nothing to prove otherwise. I approach stuff with trying to imagine how the product will work out in the real world and to me it does not look good.

So do you have a problem with glasses/HMD tech in principle, or just this particular implementation?

[DoctorWho]

Or at least more practical consumer end stuff. Like driving enhancements/safety enhancements, object tracking and location, etc. Needs way less social media.

I think they are focusing on the social aspect because that's what is popular. Honestly though, the applications you mentioned are what make augmented reality so useful.

[Andrex]

The glasses themselves don't interest me at all, the ability to develop for them does. That's going to be the key. Can I write and test code on the glasses for free? I'm just imagining combining OpenCV with this stuff. It'd be amazing.

It will likely be open source, if not outright use Android.

I foresee the final-ish versions of these being shown at Google I/O 2013 with availability later that year. $500-700 pricepoint (I think everybody is way undershooting the price of the initial model, although it will drop in time. This is assuming everything is in the glasses themselves and you aren't required to "tether" them to a smartphone, although that's a possibility too.) No lie, I'd get a pair for almost any price. Would be a billion times more useful than a new computer or ultrabook.

[AbortedWalrusFetus]

All I know is it is going to make Ikea way easier, from in store to at home. Pick something you like, it shows you were it is in the warehouse for you to pick it up. Take it home, lay out the pieces, and it gives you a visual demonstration of how to put it together, which pieces to grab next will be highlighted, etc.

[Jason's Ultimatum]

But can it detect cancer?

[Sentry]

Knowing Google launches it'll probably be a failure no matter how great it seems.

But holy shit I want one.

[The Friendly Monster]

I can barely wear them for an hour, it's different for different people :)

That's unfortunate, there are different kinds of lenses with different properties though. I'd be very surprised if you found the gas-permeable lenses that uncomfortable.

I think they're unbelievably amazing, changed my life.

[Alx]

But can it detect cancer?

More than that : it can create cancer, right into your frontal lobes !
:P

[Zaptruder]

I don't know that that is true. You can fund the technology development if you get some big businesses on board. Business will put up with clunky interfaces and equipment way before the average consumer will. Factory workers can be mandated to wear ugly glasses if it makes their jobs more efficient and safer, but no end consumer is going to.

The idea is simply - get it into the hand of consumers and the larger community of developers - and crowd source innovation to create and evolve elegant solutions to teething problems that this new technology will invariably have.

You can spend forever developing it for a few commercial firms, but get it into the hands of tens of millions of people, and you'll have your work done for you.

To be honest, the guys working on it looks like they know what the fuck is up. Especially Sebastian Thrun. He's also the chief working on the Google self driving car, and he's started up Udacity, which he's planning to turn into the university level version of Khan Academy.

[Necronomikon]

I'm in day -3.1416

[kittens]

I don't get the appeal of "checking in" somewhere. Why do people do it? Honest question, hope it's not too off topic.

[Andrex]

The video makes it seem like eye tracking will be a part of this? I wonder where they'll put the sensors for that.

Man, have any of you even worn contacts? Wearing them all day long would cause me to go blind within a week.

Exactly. I don't think the initial models will be lightweight, but eventually if they're barely heavier than mere plastic glasses I wouldn't have a problem wearing them.

[Noshino]

Have you ever worn glasses? Because that's not a complaint I've ever heard. The only issue is the typical one, glasses are annoying in general *waits for retinal implant version*

Maybe you need better contacts. Modern day (2012) ones are very breathable for me.

Glasses might be annoying for short term use, but they are generally seen by doctors as the better choice.

Look, I love my contacts because of the greater fov and the fact that I don't have to wear something on my face, but the fact is that the damn things require a lot of maintenance, not just that, but even if you do the proper daily change you could get an eye infection, corneal abrasion, etc.


I wouldn't mind a contact lenses version, but I would still want/need a glasses version.

That said, Google for realz needs to develop camera based motion tech. Or license Kinect. Or work in conjunction with MS. Because voice and head tilt are not compelling methods of interaction. Without that, we'll have to resort to pulling out our phones to serve as the touchscreen that'll allow us to navigate through more complex menus and applications (as in pretty much everything else that isn't shown in their video). This vid perfectly illustrates what I'm talking about - AR and Kinect, together at last. I mean the application they're using it for is fuckin' naff, but the implementation of the tech very cool. Still quite prototypey though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsNuwHITwuU I'm actually writing a research(ed) essay on Augmented Reality right now. I'll post it up on GAF once its done. I'm sure it'll get its fair share of haters.

Sony has partnered with Google in the past, and has done (and shown) AR tech as well.

[Max Armstrong]

I don't get the appeal of "checking in" somewhere. Why do people do it? Honest question, hope it's not too off topic.

To make sure that everybody knows they have a social life.

[AbortedWalrusFetus]

The idea is simply - get it into the hand of consumers and the larger community of developers - and crowd source innovation to create and evolve elegant solutions to teething problems that this new technology will invariably have. You can spend forever developing it for a few commercial firms, but get it into the hands of tens of millions of people, and you'll have your work done for you. To be honest, the guys working on it looks like they know what the fuck is up. Especially Sebastian Thrun. He's also the chief working on the Google self driving car, and he's started up Udacity, which he's planning to turn into the university level version of Khan Academy.

I would say get the API into the hands of the development community ASAP. People who are early enthusiasts will put up with bad aesthetics or clunky designs, but the wider community will not embrace it no matter how good the software is until the actual physical product is appealing, and it will be a while until that happens. Until then there is absolutely no reason not to market it to commercial firms first, since their workers will wear what they are told to wear. Even if you think about it, smartphones showed up in the business community with PDAs and Blackberry's way before we had an iPhone. It seems the most logical platform to launch it from because it will have immediate impact in those fields.

Edit: In reality, most of the early research in HMDs has been military.

[Marius_]

I don't get the appeal of "checking in" somewhere. Why do people do it? Honest question, hope it's not too off topic.

well facebook now how has this map filled with all the check ins and its nice to look at to see all the places you been especially if you travel a lot, and you can even attach pictures to it

[Tesseract]

I'm in day -3.1416

*nods*

[Sentry]

YouTube comments always win;

"Heeey, you waaana see something cool?
Sure
*Jumps off building."

:lol

I don't get the appeal of "checking in" somewhere. Why do people do it? Honest question, hope it's not too off topic.

Strike a conversation? Other than that, Max Armstrong got it exactly right.

The video makes it seem like eye tracking will be a part of this? I wonder where they'll put the sensors for that.

That technology has a lot of potential, even in the desktop realm it seems very powerful.

[Divvy]

YouTube comments always win; "Heeey, you waaana see something cool? Sure *Jumps off building." :lol

Heh, that's the first thing I thought of.

[Sentry]

I admit, the part where he took that snapshot and instantly shared it made me cringe a little. I don't want to constantly see bad photographs from other people.

That was one of my favorite parts. I mean, if the quality is good enough. FB image quality is shit anyway, and most people don't bother to even click and expand the 400 pixel or whatever image.

What i'm interested in is how it looks when active, on a person. Is there any light or screen that can be seen from the exterior? Privacy concerns and all that, is what mades all the other concepts fail.

[Vyer]

Looks really cool. Though watching that concept video and I could already feel a headache coming on.