Google Glass has generated a lot of buzz, but the eyeglass-mounted, touch- and voice-operated computer is still not available to the general public.
And while Google has hyped and beta-tested, competing “point-of-view” devices have begun to emerge. With competitors’ approaches ranging from conventional eyeglasses with an embedded video camera to goggles that allow users to manipulate three-dimensional holograms in the air, POV computing is becoming a crowded and diverse field in which Glass will have to compete.
Competitors have emerged targeting every perceived weak spot in Glass. Think it’s too geeky looking? Try Epiphany Eyewear, conventional glasses that include up to 32 GB of storage and a button-activated HD video camera.
You can’t wear Google Glass if you need prescription lenses, some have grumbled. Epiphany can accommodate most prescriptions, and the device uses its electronic components to become sunglasses on command. They are available for pre-order starting at $299.
Zeyez is also pre-selling normal-looking eyeglasses that record video and sound and support prescription lenses. The device can store up to 8 GB of data and can stream directly to Facebook.
Others have alleged that Glass’s geekiness would be fine if only the eyewear had more functionality than calling, texting, searching and receiving Google Now notifications. In order to do more, some would-be competitors have turned to bulkier products.
Vusix smart glasses and GlassUp offer a kind of hacked solution: Both deliver all of a smartphone’s content to a lightweight device worn on the face, but the smartphone must remain nearby. GlassUp evokes light sports or work goggles. Vusix’s device looks like a Bluetooth earpiece with an eyepiece extension.
Unlike GlassUp, which is read-only, Vusix includes the sensors one would normally find in a smartphone, and allows the user to edit content by touching or speaking to the device. GlassUp will sell for $299; no price has been announced for Vusix smart glasses, but the company expects to start sales by the end of the year.
Read original article for more.