The first coming of Google Glass wasn't a runaway success, but the futuristic wearable device did find some traction with businesses, healthcare providers and various other organizations -- while wearing one on the street always felt geeky and awkward, wearing one for a particular purpose or job (like surveying a building) seemed to be much more acceptable.
It sounds like version 2.0 of the eyewear is going to capitalize on this and focus on enterprise users: 9to5Google reports that the new gadget will be called the Enterprise Edition (EE), following on from the Explorer Edition (XE) that was on sale until January this year. As a result individual consumers may not be able to get their hands on one.
Google has been busy hiring new staff as it readies Glass 2.0 and company executives have made a point of reminding everyone that the wearable is indeed on the way back. A patent that appeared late last year suggests that the next version of the device is going to be thinner and lighter than its predecessor, and there are also rumors that Intel is supplying some of the internal circuitry for it.
While Glass is off the scene, a number of companies have been rushing to fill the gap. Microsoft's HoloLens is essentially a bigger and more powerful version of Glass, while the likes of Epson and Sony have also been getting involved -- and also finding some success with commercial organizations ready to use the smart eyewear in the workplace.
9to5Google doesn't have an official launch date for Google Glass 2.0, but its sources say extensive testing is scheduled for later this year. Apparently the new device focuses on video streaming and has hardware upgrades to match, and with images from a related patent filing going public on December 28, Google may well make an announcement in advance.
Get a daily look at what’s developing in science and technology throughout the world.