What’s next for Google Glass?

Back in 2011 it looked like Google were redefining the world of wearable technology with the introduction of Google Glass. Resembling a normal pair of glasses, Glass offered an intriguing blend of smartphone functionality and everyday comfort. However, last week Google announced that Google Glass would no longer be produced – despite the fact that the product has barely got beyond the prototype stage. With this in mind, we take a look at what’s next for Google Glass…

Google Glass: What’s the Big Idea?

Google Glass was developed by a Google Lab focussing on radical technological advancements, much like the driverless cars and drone technology that we’re hearing so much about. The attraction of Google Glass is that once you’ve adapted to wearing the system, all of your telecommunications can take place without the need for a mobile phone.

Furthermore, Glass added a new layer of functionality to the devices that are currently on the market. The idea that a mobile device could enhance your experiences in life, rather than just complement or document them, has been around in popular culture for a while. With a head-up-display (HUD) and voice-activated camera, Glass could be taken anywhere and be used for almost anything. For the first time, or so it seemed, Google were ready to bring this to the mass market, with initial devices going on sale at just under £1,000.

Why has Google Glass been Stopped?

In a post shared on Google+ the technology company shared the following insights:

It’s hard to believe that Glass started as little more than a scuba mask attached to a laptop. We kept on it, and when it started to come together, we began the Glass Explorer Program as a kind of “open beta” to hear what people had to say.

As we look to the road ahead, we realize that we’ve outgrown the lab and so we’re officially “graduating” from Google[x] to be our own team here at Google… As part of this transition, we’re closing the Explorer Program so we can focus on what’s coming next… In the meantime, we’re continuing to build for the future, and you’ll start to see future versions of Glass when they’re ready. (For now, no peeking.)

In other words, Google Glass as we’ve known it was the first incarnation of this particular kind of wearable technology. The reason why the current project appears to be scrapped is that Google are preparing to introduce the next generation of Glass, perhaps later on in 2015. Whilst the first model had many fans, future versions of Google Glass are likely to be significantly more advanced and ready to be launched into the mass market.