Google Glass Gets a Surprise Upgrade and New Frames

Google just unveiled its newest version of Glass. It's not made to be a widespread consumer product, but there are business users who will care. And the latest Glass Enterprise Edition 2, with key upgraded specs, shows where most smartglasses are at. From a report: You might remember Glass as a strange 2013 footnote, but Glass has stuck around: it became an enterprise-targeted device in 2017, and has been used in a variety of other assistive ways. Plenty of other AR headsets have been moving into the enterprise space over the last couple of years too, from Microsoft HoloLens 2 to Vuzix' glasses. While the single-display design of Glass isn't going to allow 3D augmented reality like what you'd experience on HoloLens 2, there could be applications for other types of useful augmented reality via the improved built-in camera and upgraded onboard processor. Google's announcement touts the new onboard Qualcomm XR1 chip as enabling "support for computer vision and advanced machine learning capabilities."

Google representatives refused to comment on whether that means the new Glass could possibly adopt some Google Lens-like features, and Google's VP of VR and AR, Clay Bavor, said in a statement that "Using technologies like computer vision and AR, our team's focus has been on building helpful experiences that provide useful information in context. Glass Enterprise Edition 2 does just that, and we're excited to give businesses and their employees tools to help them work better, smarter and faster."

They're back

[Anonymous Coward]

Coming this summer
Glassholes 2 - Glasswipes

Re:They're back

[geekmux]

Coming this summer Glassholes 2 - Glasswipes

Glassholes? Yeah right. You're assuming we still live in the era where privacy is valued as much as it was in 2013.

In 2019, Google Glass will be welcomed, not chastised. I guarantee it, which says a lot as to how far we've fallen in just a few years when it comes to privacy.

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't worry. If it ever gets popular google will shut it down once it fails to drive ad sales.

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

In 2019, Google Glass will be welcomed, not chastised. I guarantee it, which says a lot as to how far we've fallen in just a few years when it comes to privacy.

We've actually gone the other way. After Cambridge Analytica, people have actually started questioning the Great And Powerful Facebook. In 2013 Facebook was the shining example of American greatness that along with that wonderful invention Twitter, started the Arab Spring! (Look how well that went for both FB and Twitter).

Also, the problem

Re:

[Applehu Akbar]

In 2019, Google Glass will be welcomed, not chastised. I guarantee it, which says a lot as to how far we've fallen in just a few years when it comes to privacy.

No, they're calling it "Enterprise" because it's going to be a niche release, as it should have been in the first place: surgeons who need data displayed during a procedure, financial traders, repairmen who have to look through the manual as they work.

Re:

[slack_justyb]

No, they're calling it "Enterprise" because it's going to be a niche release, as it should have been in the first place

Exactly. Because we know Snapchat [spectacles.com] already is attempting to lay claim to the general public.

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[phantomfive]

Except once again it's a rather ugly set of glasses.

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[thegarbz]

In 2019, Google Glass will be welcomed, not chastised. I guarantee it, which says a lot as to how far we've fallen in just a few years when it comes to privacy.

Are you saying people have moved beyond arbitrarily calling someone an arsehole for choosing to buy something without any knowledge of how that person is using something? I'm glad we've collective grown up.

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[geekmux]

In 2019, Google Glass will be welcomed, not chastised. I guarantee it, which says a lot as to how far we've fallen in just a few years when it comes to privacy.

Are you saying people have moved beyond arbitrarily calling someone an arsehole for choosing to buy something without any knowledge of how that person is using something? I'm glad we've collective grown up.

Yesterday you were merely an asshole. Today you're a racist/sexist/xenophobic/homophobic piece of shit for simply disagreeing with someone's point of view, thanks to the SJW (bowel) movement.

No, it hasn't gotten better. By any means.

What about the Washroom Problem?

[Anonymous Coward]

Have they found a way to deal with the Washroom Problem?

For those who aren't aware, the basic problem is that eyewear with a built in camera could potentially record others in places like public washrooms, where some degree of privacy is expected. This kind of violation can make others uneasy or angry, and this can result in animosity directed at the wearer of the eyewear. People wearing such eyewear might be considered perverts.

Re:

[jellomizer]

Dude, what the heck do you in the washroom. Are you some sort of creeper or something.

Most of the time in washrooms I see people, washing their hands, someones feet, or standing in front of a urinal. For the most part washrooms people keep to themselves, and try to no expose themselves needlessly.

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[PolygamousRanchKid]

Most of the time in washrooms I see people, washing their hands, someones feet, or standing in front of a urinal.

Maybe we could require folks wearing Google Glasses to dress up as Jesus, and offer to wash other folks' feat in the washroom . . . ?

That would be at least hilarious for the folks that "get it".

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[Locke2005]

Uh, the shower room at the health club?

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[Cederic]

Yes. Do I sue you for medical expenses, loss of earnings and punitive damages before or after you get sent to jail for assault and battery?

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[mark-t]

Animosity directed at someone who happens to be wearing one of these in a public washroom because they *MIGHT* be recording and you have no proof of it is is making an assumption about somebody's character without actually knowing anything else about them. I guess it's nice to know that the concept of guilty until proven innocent is still alive and well.

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[mark-t]

Why am I at any more risk because someone else is wearing something I might happen to be able to obviously see than if I cannot? They could be carrying a *concealed* recording device... and in fact, if they were actually hoping to get away with recording something in private, this I would think is much more likely than happening to be openly wearing something that simply happens to have the ability to record.

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[thegarbz]

The washroom problem is only a problem for those adults who haven't grown up and believe that
a) self-conscious enough to think there's something interesting about their penis
b) self-obsessed enough to think that someone else is interested in their penis.

Guess what, no one cares.

"are at"

[stevegee58]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH dangling preposition!

I would use it for work if I could

[Ranbot]

I often have to do inspections of properties (all sorts) where I'm photos, holding paper site plans or a tablet to view digital plans, taking notes, crawling into tight spaces, moving objects, talking to a property owner/manager, and navigating slippery or uneven surfaces, indoors and outdoors in any kind of weather (Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter). A device like this could really help with photos and site plans, in particular, and free up my hands to deal with other stuff.

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[Gilgaron]

Yeah as a toy I didn't see the appeal but now I'm trying to think of work scenarios where it could be helpful, situations where people have their hands occupied but are wearing safety glasses that could take notes or photos does seem more useful than accidentally uploading footage of the user taking a dump at Arby's.

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[DrXym]

And you couldn't possibly do this already with any number of cameras that mount to helmets or clip to clothing?

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[Ranbot]

And you couldn't possibly do this already with any number of cameras that mount to helmets or clip to clothing?

I said...

...help with photos and site plans...

What clip-on cameras will project a site plan into my view?

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[DrXym]

A tablet will help with photos and site plans. And unless Google has massively updated the resolution of that display, there is no way in hell that Glass would help you do either, especially since you have no way to manipulate what you're looking at except via gestures / voice.

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[Cipheron]

He already mentioned tablets and said he needs his hands free to do the work. Already covered.

Biggest problem with Glass was privacy concerns

[darth_borehd]

Biggest problem with Glass was privacy concerns . . . from non-Glass users. It had a pretty enthusiastic market base, but as early adopters found themselves banned from more and more public spaces, it got to the point where it was easier to just leave it home. After which, what was the point?

The idea was to have AR and information always available in your daily life. A future contact-lens version of glass will be the only way to sell it to the general public again. If others can't see a potential privac

Re:

[drinkypoo]

These are being marketed to business, that's why they put Enterprise in the name. They're not intended for "influencers" or whatever

Re:

[Actually, I do RTFA]

So your solution to "I want to be able to go places without cameras observing me" is "let's make the cameras small and you won't notice!"? Fuck You very much.

Just as punchable as ever

[DrXym]

I wonder if new version will ring for an ambulance after the wearer is violently assaulted.

Defense Dept

[edi_guy]

It'd be hard to believe Magic Leap, Microsoft, and Google's key 'enterprise' customer isn't the DoD. 1.3 million active duty personnel. $10-$20k as the 'military grade' markup. License it out to Raytheon or General Dynamics to avoid the PR issue of the multi-colored Google logo on some CNN Syrian war footage.

Re:

[Actually, I do RTFA]

It seems unlikely. The military already has very expensive low-light gear and such. It'd be easier to add a HUD to that than start selling a new pipeline. And I don't think the scanning with LIDAR is robust enough to rely on in military action.

Re:

[vlad30]

And I don't think the scanning with LIDAR is robust enough to rely on in military action.

Not to mention it puts a spotlight on the soldier wearing the device.

Oh, great

[Trimaz]

The world has enough glassholes as it is.