The wearable is under lock-and-key at Google’s San Francisco offices in a building that requires “special keycard access” and signing non-disclosure agreements. People familiar with Google’s plans say the company hopes to ship an AR headset in 2024. Early prototypes of the device look like “a pair of ski goggles”.
It runs on Android and features a custom Google Tensor processor, just like Google’s Pixel 6 lineup. The headset uses outward-facing cameras to make it more immersive than Snap’s Spectacles, which are essentially sunglasses with a camera.
Google is expected to use its data centers to render graphics in the headset via an internet connection remotely. This will be interesting, considering the disparity in internet speeds across households in the U.S. There’s speculation that Google’s work with Stadia, its cloud-based gaming platform, would help with this kind of technology.
Apple is reportedly taking a chance on augmented reality, and rumors have been swirling for years about its forthcoming headset. Microsoft’s HoloLens headset, like Google Glass, also found itself more useful in enterprise settings. With Google back at the drawing board and a decade of lessons learned, it’s possible Google Glass 2 could be an excellent device.
