Google Glass 2: Pictures of wearable screen revealed as Google looks to bring smart glasses to work

New photographs and leaks suggest that the new headset will be much higher-performance and more robust, to go alongside an attempt to bring the device into enterprise

Andrew Griffin
Tuesday 29 December 2015 15:55 GMT
Comments
A picture of the glasses, taken from recent official filings
A picture of the glasses, taken from recent official filings (FCC/Google)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The second version of Google Glass has been revealed, with Google opening that the often-mocked glasses can find success with an entirely new direction.

Leaks and photos show that the second go at the glasses are bigger and more robust, as well as packing in new internal parts. And Google is pursuing a new strategy for the glasses, looking to sell them to industry and workplaces rather than to the general public.

Google announced at the beginning of this year that it was halting sales of the eyewear, and that it would focus instead on a new version. That new version has been seen for the first time, in new pictures.

The new glasses have a new processor and connectivity parts so that they will be able to run faster, as well as improved battery life to allow them to charge less. That is all packed into a bigger and more robust headset, which is waterproof and more resistant to getting broken.

But consumers won’t be able to get their hand on the new glasses. Google will only be selling them through a special programme that will see them go straight to companies, which will be able to load up custom software before they are used.

It’s not clear yet which companies will be buying the glasses, though previous suggestions have included medical professionals and designers.

The device has been revealed in photographs submitted to the Federal Communications Commission in early December, and made public this week.

Google released the first version of Glass in March, 2014. It then opened it up to more users in May of that year — before stopping sale of the glasses, with a promise to bring them back.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in