Google Glass might not be as successful as expected, but the wearable eye device has been chosen for a study to be conducted this week at the International Space Station (ISS). A team from the Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology will be taken to the ISS. The mission will take place in partnership with the non-profit Kentucky Space organization.
Google Glass for study on the ISS
A report from the magazine Glass Almanac said in pre-flight integration and post-flight operations, the device will be tested as an augmented reality tool. On Dec. 16, a SpaceX launch will be made from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida through which a package will be sent onboard to the space station, and Google Glass will be in that package.
An analysis of “the regeneration mechanisms of flatworms in the microgravity environment of space” will be done by the team. Google Glass will work as an augmented reality assistant during pre-flight and post-flight, and therefore will not be part of the actual mission. The gadget will help astronauts in transmitting images and establishing communication with the lab. Scientists conducting the experiment hope to utilize Google Glass as a human interface with Kentucky Space experiments on the ISS in 2015.
New version of Google Glass
Previously, The Wall Street Journal has reported that in 2015, a new model of the Google Glass headset will be launched by the internet giant. The new version will be an improvement over the current Explorer Edition. The new version will not only offer longer battery life but will also come with a powerful Intel chip. A series of iterative upgrades has been made to the Google Glass, after which the device has become compatible with prescription lenses, and the RAM has also doubled. The device is now being upgraded with a new processor, and this will bring a complete overhaul to the product.
Google Glass has not been accepted widely because the device has a limited battery life and has been priced heavily in four figures in terms of U.S. currency. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)(NASDAQ:GOOGL) hopes it will be able to generate consumer interest after the device gets upgraded with a modern processor and a refreshed design.
Intel’s MICA bracelet has a low-power chip at its heart, and the new Google Glass will derive its power from this particular Intel hardware. The new Devices Group was set up by Intel last year “to investigate what new kinds of devices will help drive the next stage of the microprocessor revolution,” of which MICA is a part.
