Google Glass Just Got Less Geeky!

Early Explorers first feedback was most of the time that the design of the Glass is not very nice. They were sometimes compared to Cyborgs and NY policemen wearing the device were compared to Robocop.

Google has recently taken the step that many of the users asked for regarding its Google Glass head-mounted computer. Indeed Google just introduced prescription frames for the device via an update to its website. The frames called TItanium frames should match the fashion expectations of the users and a pair will add 225$ to the current 1500$ cost of Glass for Explorers.

Explorers who already have a pair of Glass can just pick up a pair of these prescription glasses and simply attach their existing device to them.

The Glass can work with transparent or shaded lenses - additional 150$ for the tinted shades - and Google currently offers custome fitting through optometrists in a few towns in the US and plans to expand the program to many more cities worldwide. Only 200 doctors joined the fitting system but Google hopes to increase that number to 6000 by year's end. 

Google is working with VPS VisionCare (american's biggest optical health insurance provider) to get the training done and this partnership should also help with adoption too. The announcement of this partnership could take wearable devices, which are the next wave of computing, out of the realm of science-fiction and into the mainstream by making them more affordable and giving them a medical stamp of approval. It is also a new level of cooperation between the health care and high-tech industries. 

This cooperation is also an amazing deal for Google. VSP insures one fifth of the americans and Google plans to start selling Glass to the public this year. Recently a lot of people and associations have shown resistance to the device, links to privacy fears that the device could be used to take photos secretly or record discussions. As I have mentioned it in my previous article, some got arrested while driving or at the theatre, some got banned from restaurants. With traditional-style frames and prescription lenses, which Glass did not have before, the prism and the screen are less obvious and the device looks more typical. Some early Glass owners also hacked Glass to add sunglasses and other accessories.

Introducing prescription option should widen the appeal of Glass considerably and attract many more users. Wearable devices are a concrete challenge for manufactures because it involves a strong understanding of fashion and health expectations and not only of softwares and technologies. I think that Google is on its way to reach a mass market!