If you haven't heard anything about [lightbox type="iframe" title="Title" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Glass"]Google Glass[/lightbox] yet, you are in for a treat. This is easily the most arousing consumer technology that I've ever heard of. [lightbox type="iframe" title="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2013/01/googles-project-glass-is-ready-but-for-developers-eyes-only/"]'Project Glass'[/lightbox] is essentially a headset that has a little cube of glass on one side to look through, which creates [lightbox type="iframe" title="Title" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality"]augmented reality[/lightbox]. The concept of augmented reality isn't necessarily new, but Google's implementation of it is. This is a consumer level product that essentially allows you to view your surroundings and receive a slew of interactive info in return. Imagine driving down the road and instead of looking at your GPS screen or your smartphone, directions just pop up in a built-in [lightbox title="Title" href="http://www.icosa.co/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/googleGlassMap.png"]map[/lightbox] over the stuff you already see.
This technology will turn your whole world into a virtual information center. Everything you look at can be searched via Google and the information is overlaid on the things you naturally see. When I think about this technology, I imagine the [lightbox title="Title" href="http://www.icosa.co/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/terminator_AR.jpg"]Terminator[/lightbox] and his robot brain that sends him info about everything he looks at.
The possibilities for apps and tools to coincide with this hardware should be endless. While Google hasn't given a release date, the general consensus is that consumers will be able to purchase the product in 2014. Developers were given the chance to pre-order the product recently and should be able to get their hands on them as soon as late January/early February 2013. The nerds who actually get to use and test the product (at $1,500 a pop) will be able to create apps and come up with ideas for cool ways to use it. Google hopes consumers will be able to pick these up for less than $1,500 once released to the public.
I'm pretty stoked about this coming out, as I think it advances our species to be more robot-like. As a robot myself, it is a welcoming feeling. What about you robots and non-robots alike; is this a sensational product and would you pay roughly $1,500 to be an early adopter? Comment below and let me know your thoughts.
~Follow me on Twitter: @BlakeHenry27