Google announces that it is working on augmented reality glasses. The tech giant will soon test the first prototypes on a small scale in a public setting. Google wants to use the prototype to investigate how AR can help consumers in everyday life.
In a blog post Google announces that starting next month the first test with an AR glasses prototype will take place outside the test lab. Among other things, the company wants to investigate the possibilities of AR navigation. The prototypes are equipped with cameras and microphones to collect information.
Google emphasizes that the functionalities of the camera and microphones will be limited. It is not the intention that photos or videos can be made with the AR glasses. The images that the glasses collect are used for other functionalities. As an example, Google mentions translating a menu that the wearer of the prototype has in front of him.
Google has previously marketed AR glasses under the name Google Glass. The AR glasses are no longer sold to consumers. Google did come up with new versions of Google Glass, but this so-called Google Glass Enterprise Edition is only sold to companies. Support for the consumer version of the glasses has since been discontinued.