Epson Moverio Makes Google Goggles a Reality, Sort of
We all know Google (GOOG) is secretly building a super-advanced version of real-life Google Goggles at Google X Labs, but it looks as though Epson — the company behind printers and projectors — may have beaten Google to the punch. The Epson Moverio promises to bring the world of Android to your face, for a price …
Yes, you’ll probably look like something out Blade Runner (though not as cool as Harrison Ford), but Epson says its new Android-powered glasses are the wave of the future — and high-quality at that. Touting its projection-screen prowess, Epson calls the Moverio a “wearable display,” featuring a hand-held touchpad-type controller to interact with the on-screen heads-up display. It’s running Android 2.2, which is a bit old, but it has access to the Amazon App Store (which Epson actually recommends for use).
Sound cool? Want to try one out? You can buy one right now for the low-low price of $699. It doesn’t work as a phone, it’s Wi-Fi only and the battery charge only lasts six hours, but hey — you’ll be the talk of the town, especially if you wear them outside the house.
The good news? Mass-produced near-prototypes such as Moverio are setting the stage for more refined products down the road. They also get the idea into the public consciousness, which certainly helps paves the way for widescale adoption in the future. Make no mistake, wearable technology is the future, although the Moverio still seems primitive, especially with its “interactive” dongle. You might want to wait and see what Google does before you buy one.
If you happen to be attending AnDevCon in San Francisco, Epson will be there showing off the Android-powered spectacles. Be sure to drop a comment below if you get to grace your face with this newfangled computer.