The Google Glass project was revealed in April 2012 but we have heard surprisingly little about how it actually works and how it feels to use the product in everyday use. Wall Street Journal has tried Google Glass and is the first to tell about the user interface and experience.

Google Glass is "disorienting but promising"
Google has big plans for the Google Glass project. The heads-in display works as an augmented reality product that adds layers of information directly onto your eyes. When walking down the street you can for example have arrows or information show up automatically as you pass certain areas. Since it has no physical interface it is controlled by voice commands.


Google’s Project Glass will arrive as a true product next year and many of the features are sill not functional in the prototype

Wall Street Journal’s Spencer Ante is the first journalist to try and report about the product. Google underlines that the heads-up display is still a prototype but the product is now better and is more advanced than when unveiled in April.

- “In all, the glasses are like a wearable smartphone, allowing the user to take pictures, send messages and perform other functions via voice-activated commands. For instance, say "OK, Glass" into one of the glasses' two microphones and a menu pops off to the side of your vision showing icons that will let you take a picture, record a video, use Google Maps or make a phone call.”

- “After 10 minutes of playing with the glasses—which the company prefers to call Google Glass, since they don't have lenses—I could see their long-term potential. The device fit well. It was easy to snap a picture or video without taking my smartphone out of my pocket. It was cool to see the information there in front of my right eye, though a little disorienting. I kept closing my left eye, which was uncomfortable.”

Google’s co-founder Sergey Brin is personally overseeing the project and adds that Google Glass has a time-lapse function that lets him take photos of his surroundings every 10 seconds. That function comes in handy when playing with his kids, Brin says. WSJ’s Spencer Ante rounds off by saying that basic functions such as maps directions, phone capabilities and messaging are still not functional. He also hopes to see a real killer application for the product when it launches.

Google Glass is expected to be available early next year and cost $1500 USD.

- Source: WSJ