Wednesday, 13 March 2013

Google shows off its Glass revolution at SXSW festival to let developers see ... - The Independent

The app-heavy presentation gave developers their first look at the Google Glass Mirror API – the interface they will use to build new apps and programs for the device.

One of the first demonstrations at the festival revealed how Google's Gmail email service will work on Glass.

A voice command will generally control the Gmail app, both in the sending and receiving of emails, while images will be displayed on the Glass' screen.

Another program displayed during the South by Southwest Interactive presentation included a New York Times app, which displays an article's headline, byline and post time on the screen, before a tap on the side of the device prompts it to read the full article to you.

Evernote and Skitch software will be used by Google Glass to share text and images, while the Path network will enable users to view and comment on their friends' posts.

Reviewers said that the Google Glass Mirror API interface will enable smooth app development and presentation via a system known as 'timeline cards', which include text, images, rich HTML and video.

In an explainer article, TechCrunch said: "The Mirror API is essentially a REST API, which should make developing for it very easy for most developers."

The article added: "The Glass device essentially talks to Google's servers and the developers' applications then get the data from there and also push it to Glass through Google's APIs."

The South by Southwest Interactive presentation comes as Google steps up its promotion of the $1,500 device ahead of an expected launch date later this year.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin recently described Google Glass as the first in a new generation of "wearable tech", arguing that such devices are less "emasculating" than smartphones.

The company has also organised and publicised Google Glass-related competitions and partially funded the development of high-profile technology that allows Glass users to identify their friends just by the clothing they wear.

Not all the pre-launch publicity has been positive though. According to CNET.com, one Seattle-based bar has already banned customers from using Google Glass.

The owner of The 5 Point, a self-described 'dive bar', is reported to have said that the "seedy, maybe notorious" establishment hosts a clientele that are "not the sort of people that want to be secretly filmed of videotaped and immediately put on the internet".

A seemingly tongue-in-cheek message posted on The Five Point's Facebook page added: "For the record, The 5 Point is the first Seattle business to ban in advance Google Glasses…And ass kickings will be encouraged for violators."

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