History of Computers - Google Glass

Introduction

First introduced in 1996 under the name BackRub, Google was a search engine created by two Stanford graduates, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The server ran for a year, but eventually took up too much bandwidth for the Stanford servers. The expanding dreams of the co creators paved a path for the innovated Google Inc. that we know now. Google’s most recent breakthrough is a hand free computer disguised as glasses. This invention, termed Google glass, has wowed investors and testers with its innovated and seemingly impossible qualities.

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Overview

Google glass, currently priced at $1,500 includes 16GB storage, bone vibrating sound, a built in camera, and a 640 x 360 display, which is equivalent to watching a high definition 25 inch screen from 8 feet away. The computer sits in specialized glasses frame and can be accessed by nodding your head upward. You can navigate the computer with voice commands or by using the touch pad on the right arm of the glasses. Google glass can connect to the Internet or a smart phone enabling it to receive calls and texts as well as surf the web or GPS. The device is charged using a USB cable and can easily hold charge for a day if you do not continuously take video.

Google Glass has all the components of a basic computer stored into the glasses frames. Most processing is in the cloud and is transmitted to the glasses through Wi-Fi connection. So to operate Google glass to the fullest extent an Internet connection is needed. Once the glasses have received the information a small projector projects the data onto a prism right above your eye. This allows you to see the image just above your line of sight. The image should not obstruct your view and will quickly fade if not in use.

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Significance

Google Glass is bringing in a revolutionary wave of change. By integrating computers with fashion and increasingly easy access information will be more readily and easily shared and viewed. Google glass makes needed information ready with a simple voice command. It can display train and airplane schedules and live stock market feeds. Google glass may soon make iPhones and Android phoness obsolete and will be improved upon until the already revolutionary device approaches the limits of technology.

In January of 2015, Google discontinued Google Glass. The failure of Google Glass was due to several factors. The augmented reality glasses failed to live up to the hype, and shipped with too few useful features. The average consumer had a hard time swallowing the $1,500 price tag in light of the lack of applications. Privacy concerns over surreptitious photos possibly being taken by Google Glass lead to the device being banned in certain locations.