Google's Glass Enterprise smart glasses have been discontinued, ending a product that initially piqued many people's interest but ultimately proved to be a disappointment. We trace its beginnings and eventual demise here.
On Wednesday, Google made the announcement that it will no longer be providing software support for its Glass Enterprise smart glasses and will also cease selling them on September 15. A product that was first sold in 2013 will no longer be available thanks to this change. Because the Google Glass was never really successful, Google eventually restricted its use to businesses only. However, we would need to go deeper into its history and try to understand why Google created it in order to fully comprehend why it failed.
How does Google Glass work?
Google Glass is a technology that can be worn like regular glasses. Google developed it. A small transparent display on the right side of the frame that displayed a variety of information, including text messages, emails, weather forecasts, and directions, was included in the device when it was first introduced in 2013 as the Google Glass Explorer Edition.
Voice commands and a touchpad on the right side of the frame control the device. It also has a camera for taking pictures and videos, a microphone, and a speaker for listening to music and making calls.
The initial version of Google Glass was made for consumers, but subsequent versions have been made for use in business settings like manufacturing and healthcare.
Glass by Google: History: Google's R&D lab, X, was the first to investigate the idea of an optical head-mounted device (OHMD). The first prototype was finished in 2011, but it was too heavy to be sold because it weighed more than 3 kg.
After that, in April 2012, Google unveiled the device for the very first time via concept videos and photographs. The video called "Task Glass: One Day..." showed a complex device that could be worn on glasses and perform tasks like checking the weather and the calendar, listening to music, and more that we've come to associate with smartphones. The video made a lot of noise and showed that the product was off to a great start. Sergey Brin, a co-founder of Google, made an additional announcement and donned Google Glass on stage to demonstrate video recording capabilities to tech enthusiasts.
After more testing, Google eventually developed a prototype in 2013 that resembled the demo version. The original prototype, which weighed more than a brick, was a far cry from this version, which weighed less than 50 grams, which is prescription glass territory. For $1,500, this prototype was ready to be sold only to Google I/O developers.
This particular model, which was dubbed the Google Glass Explorer Edition, could only be used on 8,000 devices at a time. These developer frames could be purchased from brand partners like Oakley, Ray-Ban, and others for an additional $255. The model was generally welcomed by the rare sorts of people who got to attempt it yet things immediately went downhill from that point.
How the Google Glass failed There were a number of positive reviews of the Google Glass Explorer Edition when it was first released. However, if you take a step back and consider the bigger picture, you'll notice that they referred to the product as "promising," making it appear as though the model under consideration was still in its infancy and lacked much functionality.
In May 2014, Google Glass became available to the general public, following the launch of the Explorer Edition. However, the product was not as well received this time around. It didn't offer a lot over the 2013 model and the way that it didn't get a lot less expensive ($999) didn't help by the same token.
The Glass didn't have a lot of features for its price, so it didn't have the kind of appeal that Google had hoped for. A smartphone or smartwatch, which are significantly less expensive, could easily accomplish the majority of what Glass did, with the exception of its ability to capture video and photos from the perspective of its wearer.
Additionally, Google did not respond to some pressing inquiries: What is the purpose of Google Glass?," Why does it cost so much? and "What is the device's purpose?" The major search engine company simply made the decision to ignore the inquiries and continued developing and promoting Google Glass without elucidating the essential features of the product.
It took them some time, but by 2017, Google had realized that the best use for Google Glass was for professional and medical use. After that, the company made the decision to discontinue selling Glass to the general public and instead restrict the product's availability to enterprise customers.
The first generation of Google Glass was released in 2017, and the second generation came out in 2019. It was called a "wearable device that helps businesses improve the quality of their output and help their employees work smarter, faster, and safer," according to Google.
Why Google Glass didn't work: The cost is probably the most important factor. Customers should not be expected to pay $1,500 for a product that is still in its infancy.
Design: Can we just be real - the Google Glass would be one off-kilter gadget to wear to parties. It very well may be spotted from a mile on account of its cyborg-ish look and wasn't unobtrusive enough in its structure.
Functionality: As currently referenced, Google Glass neglected to offer a lot over cell phones and smartwatches save from the capacity to catch video and photographs from its wearer's POV. In addition, Google did not adequately explain the reason for the device's existence or the issue it intended to address with the product.
