Tag: google glass

A new Google patent reveals that AR technology is being developed, which could provide users with a map of their environment.

Late last week, a Google patent was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which described a type of augmented reality technology that would enable users wearing an optical head-mounted display, like Google Glass, to view information about objects in their environment within their line of sight, reported the International Business Times.

The new technology would allow for the detection and recognition of target devices.

According to the patent application, the internet and computer software giant’s patent is called “Self-Describing Three-Dimensional (3D) Object Recognition and Control Descriptors for Augmented Reality Interfaces”. The abstract of the official patent application states that the technology would “provide for the detection and recognition of target devices, by a mobile computing device, within a pre-defined local environment.”

In essence, what this means, according to the patent, is that the technology would provide users with details about the items that exist within their environment. For instance, this could include finding out the width and height of certain objects, such as tables or chairs, via augmented reality, as well as give users a map of the room in which they are present.

This new patent may be good news for the future of Google Glass.

If this technology actually worked, in theory, it would be like having robot vision; something like the point of view that is commonly used in films to show what a robot sees as it analyzes its environment. More specifically, if a Google Glass device was equipped with this technology, it would have the potential to provide users with all the details they want to know about a certain object in a room, just by looking at it.

That being said, as exciting as this technology sounds, it is unlikely that it will give “Terminator”, “Robocop” or “Iron Man” vision to Google Glass users in the future. Right now, it’s still far too early to tell what will eventually be developed. After all, Google’s latest patent application only provides a glimpse of what the company is thinking. It doesn’t even guarantee that the product will ever reach commercialization.

This news was made just as the Apple Watch was first launched and as over 3,000 compatible apps flooded iTunes.

At the same time that the wearable technology spotlight had been aimed at the Apple Watch release, Samsung dropped hints and teases about its own possible upcoming smartwatch that may have a round design.

Samsung wasn’t the only company grasping for attention on that day as Google also suggested a possible new Glass release.

Though the Apple Watch smartwatch launch didn’t come with all of the explosive hype of the typical release of gadgets from that device maker, due to the preorder online selling strategy that it implemented, there was a great deal of noise in the wearable technology industry as other companies fought to draw attention to their own upcoming tech creations. As Apple’s faithful shoppers selected the devices that they would like to pick up at their stores, and as over 3,000 wearables friendly apps made it into iTunes, many other announcements were also made.

Samsung, for instance, felt that this would be a great time to tease at the appearance of a new smartwatch.

The upcoming wearables from Samsung may break with its previous designs and aim for a round screen. This would not be the first round device on the market but it would be the first one from that company and it would still place it in the minority.

Beyond that, the CEO of Luxottica revealed that when it comes to wearable technology news, it didn’t stop with Samsung. Google is also gearing up to start to show off a brand new version of its Glass augmented reality headset. It had already shut down operations on the original version of that device, but it’s now clear that the AR glasses weren’t abandoned, altogether, as hints have been repeatedly dropped over the last while about a new version that will be on its way.

The wearable technology category is starting to heat up in quite a dramatic and increasingly competitive way and while companies had previously appeared to be testing the waters with initial releases of a smartwatch, it now looks as though they are moving beyond the basics. Design and style are becoming an important factor with these wearables.