A Google blog says that the creator of the Android operating system is developing sunglasses that can function as a smartphone. The “Google goggles” have a display that can be seen by one eye, leaving the other eye free to see the real world. One possible use is delivery of location-based services, meaning that a user could walk around and see real-time suggestions from Google of places to shop or eat. The user reportedly navigates the screen by tilting his or her head. The device is also expected to respond to voice commands.
Of course the goggles would also function as a phone, replacing the need for an earbud. The glasses include a small front-facing camera, allowing users to easily photograph what they see.
Google Goggles is also the name of an Android app. The app uses photographs to conduct searches. It uses image recognition to scan a picture and return relevant search results, or to scan a bar code and return product information.
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