Google has seemingly made another move towards enhancing one of their most anticipated products – Glass. According to the Wall Street Journal, Google has purchased a number of display related patents from well known Apple manufacturer Hon Hai Precision who trade under the more widely known name – Foxconn.
While no specifics were outlined with regards to how much was paid for the patents, Hon Hai also also only described the patents as
the patents sold to Google included head-mounted technology that allows a virtual image to be superimposed on a “real-world view.”
Sounds very much like a very Google Glass related purchase, which is due for a more wide spread launch either at the end of the year or more likely next year.
Whether the patents were purchased to enhance Google’s portfolio in preparation for a massive upswing in wearable computing that seems to be coming. Google Vice President for Corporate Development David Lawee was quoted as saying after the Samsung vs Apple stoush last year that the trial was a “wake-up call” and that ‘We weren’t patenting things as aggressively as we should have been’. So it appears that Google has learned and this could be part of that.
It’s also highly likely that this could be a move towards moving into large scale production of Glass before an actual release. Last month, Google purchased a 6.3% stake in Himax Technologies; a company who manufactures ‘liquid crystal on silicon (“LCOS”) chips and modules used in applications including head-mounted display (HMD) such as Google Glass, head-up display (HUD) and pico-projector products’.
That Google is purchasing patents that very much appear to be about augmented reality, is quite exciting as it shows that they are really looking at making a reality what was shown off in their first concept video which turned the world onto the idea of Glass and the possibilities of what could possibly be :
If Google can get this done, then Glass will certainly fly off the shelves, there are a number of companies already doing great things with Glass and I personally cannot wait to get my hands on a pair.
Will Glass be better with Augmented Reality or is the current functionality all you need?
I’m so excited for Glass it’s not funny, future versions are going to be incredible, the possibilities are endless. I can’t wait to get my hands on a pair either.
Although Glass itself does have it’s downfalls, it’s going to be hard for them to start selling devices, because of privacy and fashion concerns, but nonetheless, good stuff coming our way from Google, as always 🙂
I’m so excited for Glass it’s not funny, future versions are going to be incredible, the possibilities are endless. I can’t wait to get my hands on a pair either.
Although Glass itself does have it’s downfalls, it’s going to be hard for them to start selling devices, because of privacy and fashion concerns, but nonetheless, good stuff coming our way from Google, as always 🙂
I’m so excited for Glass it’s not funny, future versions are going to be incredible, the possibilities are endless. I can’t wait to get my hands on a pair either.
Although Glass itself does have it’s downfalls, it’s going to be hard for them to start selling devices, because of privacy and fashion concerns, but nonetheless, good stuff coming our way from Google, as always 🙂