For those who can’t be torn away from their smartphones, Google may have the answer.
They have invented a pair of internet-connected spectacles which will make your life flash before your eyes.
If you want to know the time, the temperature, talk to a friend or get directions to that café you read about in a magazine, it will all appear as if by magic in front of you.
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The demo shows off Google Maps being 'added' to the real world - providing real-time directions from your current location
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In demonstrations, the glasses are mainly voice-controlled, using voice commands to bring up contacts, send emails and search
In demonstrations, the glasses are mainly voice-controlled, using voice commands to bring up contacts, send emails and search
The glasses appear to run a variant of the Android operating system, using the same microphone icon and other recognisable parts of Google's mobile OS
The demo shows emails and other information 'layered' into a view of the world via screens in the glasses
Called Google Goggles, they are not yet on sale, but a promotional video released by the company has shaken up the technology world and prompted claims they could revolutionise the way we live.
The wraparound glasses feature a miniature display that sits above one eye, allowing users to surf the internet, make video calls, listen to music and update the diary without lifting a finger.
The screen is controlled by voice and by tilting your head, so one catch may be a few funny looks in the street.
A prototype is being tweaked and tested in public by the company’s employees before it goes on sale. The technology is known as ‘wearable computing’ and is expected to launch a new generation of gadgets which display a layer of information over everything the wearer sees – bringing together the search engine, GPS tracking, a phone and a camera.
The service lets you locate nearby friends in a similar way to Google's current Latitude service
The demonstration shows off navigation information similar to what Google currently offers via its Maps service
In the video, entitled One Day, the wearer is given information instantly from buildings they are looking at, landmarks or friends in the area. The device is potentially a gift to advertisers as they could reach users in ever more personal situations, such as a restaurant, shop or relaxing on their sofa.
Applications featuring ‘virtual reality’ situations could be offered in future. This is the first glimpse of the glasses after months of speculation. Reports suggest the price will be comparable with the smartphone.
It is a coup for Google’s Android system which has in recent years been stung by the popularity of the Apple iPhone.
The glasses also allow users to record and share videos from a built-in camera, just like on YouTube
The world is just an eyeball away: Models demonstrate how the goggles look in practice
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