Computers and technology are advancing at an ever-increasing rate. What was new a year ago is now obsolete, and futuristic innovations to come really don’t seem that far away. Tablets and smartphones brought touch interactivity to the masses, but now voice-activated wearable technology is pushing the limits of what we can do with a machine, both in terms of computing power and size. If you haven’t heard of Google Glass yet, prepare to reconsider what you think a computer is, and prepare to be amazed at what this latest innovation can do.

What is Google Glass?

Google Glass is a computer that you wear like glasses. Just like a smartphone or tablet, you can connect it with just about anything and anyone. However, unlike iOS or Android technology, Google Glass offers hands-free, voice-activated interactivity. If it annoys you that people always look down at their mobile devices, or if you want to use your mobile device but need to look elsewhere, Google Glass solves this problem by placing a computer screen right where your eye is. It sounds incredibly futuristic and impossible, but it’s true: With Google Glass, your screen is everywhere you look, allowing users to interact with their computer and the world around them at the same time.

What kinds of things can be done with this computer technology?

With a simple audio signal of “OK Glass” followed by a basic command, you can basically make Google Glass do anything you would do with your smartphone or tablet. You can send and receive messages, of course, but you can also ask Glass to take a photo or record a video, search for information, live video chat with anyone else with a mobile device (and a Google account, naturally). , translate your voice, get turn-by-turn directions, and much more. The technology is still fairly new, so it’s a safe bet to say that as more users and programmers get their hands on it, more features will be developed.

Is this the future of computers and technology?

It is always difficult to predict the future. However, it’s probably safe to say that there will be a market for laptops like Google Glass in the next few years. On the one hand, it solves the problem of everyone looking down and interacting with a smartphone or tablet; Eye contact has become scarce in recent years due to our reliance on our devices. Using a machine like Google Glass allows natural interaction with other people. Also, wearable technology like Glass is small and light, which seems to be the trend in improving our interactive devices: thinner, more portable, less boxy. Another thing to consider is that throughout recent history, when people have envisioned the future of computers, they have often envisioned a voice-controlled machine responding to our commands. That’s exactly what Google Glass does: the wearer tells it to do something and it responds accordingly. It’s not a robot companion per se, but voice activation feels like a natural evolution of technology like Apple’s Siri for iOS. For these reasons and more, it’s a good bet that more and more people will be using wearable devices like Google Glass in the coming years.

Is this technology available to the average person?

Well yes and no. Currently, to get your hands on Google Glass, you have to justify to the company why you’re worthy. Called the Glass Explorers program, Google’s intent is to put its product, which is technically still in beta, into the hands of people who will use it in a transformative, creative and influential way that many other people will see. Until now, Glass has been offered to teachers, athletes, scientists and others. Recently, Google has extended a wave of additional invites to more people, but it’s not for a free device. The current price is $1500, certainly reasonable for a powerful machine, but still expensive and certainly more than the average smartphone or tablet. However, as with most technologies, Google Glass is expected to become more affordable in the coming years, allowing more people to own their own.

Technology like Google Glass is remarkable. It allows us to reflect on how far our computers have come in recent years and how it’s getting closer to our childhood dreams of a future like the Jetsons. In recent weeks, Google has updated its prototype and now Glass has more options: It’s available in multiple colors and, with a quick tweak, it can work with sunglasses and prescription glasses. The durability of the device has also been improved; Unlike a pair of store-bought glasses, Google Glass doesn’t break or warp easily. If you get the chance to try out Google Glass for yourself, take it. You’ll be amazed at how much you can do with a device that’s almost completely hands-free.