Google Glass is going on hiatus and when it returns, the revamped, computerized eyewear will be a completely different animal than its predecessor. Last month, Google
shut down the Glass Explorer program, which was a semi-public testing program for the prototype Glass. It appears that the plan now it to completely rebuild the
Glass from scratch, using what was learned from the prototype.
Don’t expect to see the Glass again anytime soon. Where the Google X team first released the Glass into the world very early in the development process (too early, according to some), the team is now taking more of a “it’s done when it’s done” type of approach. Tony Fadell, who made his mark by founding Nest Labs and eventually selling it to Google, is leading the Glass team. He is expected to scratch the old Glass and design entirely new computerized eyewear.
DVF Made For Glass. Image Credit:
GoogleBuilding a wearable computer seems like a reasonable step for someone who has developed a reputation for overseeing successful product development at both
Apple and
Nest. Nest is known as much for making the homely thermostat stylish as for the Nest’s power-saving features. The new Glass will need to be easier to wear and use and must overcome the security concerns that plagued the prototype. The original Google Glass was banned from
movie theaters (to prevent unauthorized recording) and even prompted concerns that it could
hurt users’ eyes.
Joshua Gulick
Josh cut his teeth (and hands) on his first PC upgrade in 2000 and was instantly hooked on all things tech. He took a degree in English and tech writing with him to
Computer Power User Magazine and spent years reviewing high-end workstations and gaming systems, processors, motherboards, memory and video cards. His enthusiasm for PC hardware also made him a natural fit for covering the burgeoning modding community, and he wrote
CPU’s “Mad Reader Mod” cover stories from the series’ inception until becoming the publication editor for
Smart Computing Magazine. A few years ago, he returned to his first love, reviewing smoking-hot PCs and components, for
HotHardware. When he’s not agonizing over benchmark scores, Josh is either running (very slowly) or spending time with family.