FollowToday, mobile devices are smartphones or tablets that we carry along, i.e. hand-held objects placed in our pockets or bags. These hand-held objects have definitely unleashed a world of convenience, but technology is taking us farther ahead with wearable mobile devices. That’s clear from the latest hype about Google’s Project Glass and Apple’s rumored iWatch. How do the two devices compare with each other?
Google Glass, expected to be released later this year, is described as an “Augmented Reality” wearable device. Augmented Reality refers to the mode of viewing the physical environment with graphics, text, sound, GPS details and video. The Glass features a head-mounted display, with a smartphone-like layer on the inner side of your glasses. The technology runs on Android OS with voice commands, so it can be operated anywhere without using your hands. A rocker button placed on the right frame can also be used to control. In other words, the Glass comprises a voice-activated display built into eyeglasses. Google is trying to collaborate with companies like Rayban to widen the reach of its Glass. When it comes to safety, Google could incorporate a feature to auto-upload thefts and similar occurrences to YouTube.
Apple’s iWatch, rumored to be a hot tech piece of 2013, is basically a smartwatch with a flexible structure that can be shaped to be worn around the wrist. It can connect to the wearer’s iPhone via Bluetooth and facilitate control functions, such as Siri for voice automated commands. Second-screen functionalities, such as controlling music and finding directions are also expected. The iWatch will run on iOS. What about safety features? Perhaps, iWatch can sense the owner’s wrist and cease to work when someone else wears it.
Apple seems to have the edge when it comes to aesthetics, while Google is consistently ahead in terms of technology and innovation. When it comes to utility, the iWatch may not be as practical as Google Glass to follow GPS while driving. At the same time, wearing the iWatch fill fit better into your routine as watches are more commonly used accessories compared to glasses. Google Glass is likely to have a $1500 price tag, while there are no clues of pricing details for the iWatch.
As wearable devices reach mainstream, developers will start releasing apps that will make user-experience more immersive. Sophisticated gadgets like the Google Glass and iWatch are having an expensive role in the digital realm, but will allow access to the Internet and computer anywhere and anytime, that too with hands-free operation.
