Google’s failed venture to take a new turn.
Google acquired North and has recently stated in its blog post that it has acquired the Canadian smart glass company. Hardware SVP Rick Osterloh said, “North’s technical expertise will help as we continue to invest in our hardware efforts and ambient computing future.”
Google had its own share of contribution to the smart glass industry under the name of Google Glass. It was a failed venture, as it shut down after two years. Even North’s CEO Stephen Lake called Google Glass “a massive failure” in a tech talk held back in 2019. If you think Google admitted defeat after its doomed attempt at making smart glasses, you’re wrong. It has now acquired North for a whopping $180 million.
What are smart glasses?
Smart glasses are the spectacle-like incarnation of either augmented reality or a mere display of flat imagery. They can automatically provide you with flight status when you walk into an airport, foretell weather conditions, place calls, and send messages. They can perform all these functionalities with the help of voice recognition technology. There is also a touchpad available on the rims of such glasses that allow you to monitor it manually.
How do smart glasses work?
Smart glasses usually make use of voice and motion to perform their functions. It has an Operating System like the Google Glass had based on Android. You can surf the internet and operate on your glass by using the touchpad or through voice. The images displayed on your lens is like a mini version of what you would see on your handset or laptop. Usually, the images are in their true colors.
The reason behind Google acquired North.
Osterloh emphasized how Google is trying to make a mark in ambient computing. This means that it is attempting to develop the technology with the help of which images on screens disappear into the background, which was the strategic reason behind acquiring North. North and Google are supposed to join hands, and both teams will work in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. It is where North is based, and it will aid in building Google’s hardware efforts and ambient computing future.
How did North’s smart glasses gain recognition?
North launched its recent smart glass called ‘Focals’- which surprisingly manages to look like an ordinary spectacle, but has smart capabilities. It has Amazon Alexa skills integrated into it, which means you can control those glasses with the help of your smart speakers.
Unlike Google Glasses that had the obvious resemblance of something far from a spectacle, these have thick arms in which there is all the machinery and functionalities. Also, these aren’t augmented reality, but rather a transparent screen displaying flat imagery. Focals received significant media recognition after its release, as they provided the most user-friendly wearable glasses computing interface ever. Unlike other companies’ failed attempts in creating prompt technology and sleek design, Focals successfully flaunted both qualities. Henceforth, Google acquired North to build is tech base further.
Role of Voice Technology in Smart Glasses
Last year, Amazon declared that it would launch Alexa smart glasses, that would utilize hands-free technology. Facebook is in line too, declaring its plans to release it’s own augmented reality glasses. We can summon our smart glasses and assign them tasks with the help of a voice. Like answering or placing calls, dropping messages, viewing our calendar or schedules, all with the help of Voice. So it’s safe to say that voice technology plays a pivotal role in smart glasses’ functionalities. With Google acquired North, we are surely in for great discoveries and huge surprises from the world of voice technology.
