What Is Google Glass? Features, Specs and How To Get One

It was named Project Glass in the research and development sector of Google and was hoped to become a mass made product which could be enjoyed by thousands of consumers across the globe.

Now this dream is becoming a reality as Google launch their Explorer Program enabling consumers to compete for the chance to receive a Google Glass (once they paid the $1500 fee and provided they live in the US.

Google glass is a wearable computer which is worn on the eyes. It has a hands-free smartphone format with taking pictures, going on the internet and more through controlling it with your voice. It consists of a glass screen which looks like a screen in the corner of the users eye, designed in a non-distracting way. The body of Google Glass is made of a bendable plastic available in five colours which will be described below.

Google Glass can be controlled using your voice or through a touchpad on the side of the glasses. It has many functions allowing you to do the following:

• Take a picture or record a video of 10 seconds
• Get directions for wherever you need to go
• Share your images or go on Google+
• Get real-time information about virtually everything, airplane flights, matches etc.
• Search on Google and get real-time facts about what you see.
• You can translate your voice into any language.

Google Glass is hands free so you can control Glass with your voice. To begin, users can either tilt their head slightly at 30⁰ or say 'OK Glass'. This turns on Glass and it is now ready to do some commands. You can then say 'Take a picture' to take a picture and so forth. You can hangout with others through Google+ so I you want to, you just say: 'Hangout with ...'.

Or if you aren't so keen on talking to an electronic gadget in public, you can use a touchpad as a side scroll on the side of Glass.

Google have designed Glass so that it would be light and flexible as stated on their website, weighing just 50 grams. Don't let the weight symbolise that they are weak, no they are in fact quite the opposite. They are strong and durable also, according to Google, whether that's true or not we will just have to wait and see.

Glass is available in a variety of colours including: Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton and Sky (Blue). These colours are perfect because they will delight everyone, there is something for everyone when it comes to colour choice. It seems that these glasses will have a use for those that need prescription glasses as they have a modular design meaning that they can be attached to any prescription lenses. Sunglasses can also be attached to Glass making these very fashionable.

The operating system that Glass uses is Android and Google are currently using free applications and software as part of the Google Glass experience. Third party developers are creating these apps and they have been given the API needed to create these apps so you can now create apps for Glass. These apps are increasing in number every week and here are a selection of some of the best on offer.

• Cycling - With Strava you can get directions, data, time elapsed and distance you've travelled when cycling or racing your friends.
• CNN - Get news updates in this real-time with CNN.
• Elle - For all you fashionistas out there, you can now receive fashion updates through Google Glass.
• Recipes: Hands covered in flour and can't reach the recipe book? You can now, literally see the instructions with this unique Allthecooks app. Have all the best and ultimate recipes 'in front of you' without you doing a thing, it's all hands free.
• Translate Languages: Stuck in a country and don't know what anything means? Don't fear because with WorldLens it translates all the words for you, in real time. I think that is pretty impressive.
• Golfing: With GolfSight you can get all the information you need about your score, pin distance and course data in the corner of your eye.

After sitting here reading this hub, you probably want to get a Glass. Unfortunately as of November/December 2013 getting one won't be so easy. The price for a Glass currently is over $1500 but next year it should be less than $1000. Yes, it is a little pricey but you still cannot purchase it. You will need a direct invite code from Google to even allow you to pay/purchase a Glass. This invention is still in the beginning of its release to consumers worldwide but its getting there. If you want one now, you will have to live in the US, have $1500 ready if a spot opens up and be able to collect it from Google at New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles (you can get it delivered at extra cost).

This is known as the Explorer Program. To summarise, there are two ways in which you can get Glass.

• Sign up here at Glass' website and wait if a spot opens up. If a spot does open up, you can purchase Glass for $1500 and collect it from Google's offices in New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles. It has a pretty hefty price tag but as it enters mainstream, the price should reduce. Android smartphones, another start-up moonshot that Google bought used to have a very expensive price tag but today, nine years later, over 1 billion devices are in use. They are a lot cheaper than what they were before when they first began. It is believed that this will happen to Glass.
• Or, you don't have to wait for a spot to open up (think about it, there could be hundreds of thousands signed up for one). So instead you can purchase a direct invite code from eBay such as the ones on the right. Once you have this code, you can purchase and collect from Google.

Don't worry, Google will be making Glass more accessible for everyone in the future. Google are releasing it slowly to various groups in society such as developers and researches and it is still in beta. They are still experimenting with its features but one day, it should be accessible to all.

Update: On 16 April 2014, a 24 hour time frame was given to the public to purchase Glass if they wished. However, it is still only open to US residents and not to Europe or anywhere else in the world.

So is Google Glass to future of technology? Yes, definitely I think so. When I think of how technology will evolve into the future, I can see Glass coming into the equation. It is a seamless, stylish and suave entrance into the technology world and makes technology look a lot more 'friendly' then it was before. When you think that you can get real-time information about virtually anything in the blink of an eye (literally!), that's something really unique. So well done to Google and keep up with the amazing inventions!

What do you think? Please leave your comments, thoughts and suggestions below where I will be delighted to answer you!