Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin Wears Google Glasses (PHOTOS)

Since Google unveiled its "Project Glass" demo on Wednesday, the futuristic "augmented reality" eyeglasses have become the target of more than a few parodies poking fun at the spectacles' conceptual flaws and ambitions. (See Jimmy Kimmel's take on the glasses below, as well as a parody of Google's promotional video that envisions the glasses with lots of advertising).

But that didn't stop Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin from sporting a real-life version of the glasses this week at a charity event in San Francisco. Photographer Thomas Hawk caught pictures of Brin wearing the glasses and posing with tech blogger Robert Scoble, which he uploaded to his Flickr page:

On Twitter, Scoble said that he was denied a request to try out the glasses himself but that they seemed similar in some respects to a typical pair:

Sergey wouldn't let me wear the Google Glasses but I could see they were flashing info to him. I so want one of these!

— Robert Scoble (@Scobleizer) April 6, 2012

@jonfingas they look very light weight. Not much different than a regular set of glasses!

— Robert Scoble (@Scobleizer) April 6, 2012

As for the rest of us, Google has unfortunately revealed very little about the timeline for the project or an estimated date of completion. But tipsters have said that an experimental version of the glasses may be available to the public by the end of 2012 and could cost between $250 and $600, according to Electronista.

But even if the product isn't available for another two years, early reports indicate the glasses may be worth the wait. One person lucky enough to try out a prototype of the glasses gave a positive review to the New York Times.

“They let technology get out of your way. If I want to take a picture I don’t have to reach into my pocket and take out my phone; I just press a button at the top of the glasses and that’s it," the tester said.

Flickr photos by Thomas Hawk

Check out the parody videos of the spectacles below followed by a slideshow of photos released by Google on Wednesday:

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Comments

[travelfreak]

10:53 PM on 04/09/2012

These look so freakin cool! Although, as far as comfort, I wonder how they balance the weight of the glasses, with one side being substantially larger than the other.

[BIGBUFFB52]

11:12 PM on 04/08/2012

I think that I want these, but will they just become a further distraction from human interaction. Ask any other Star Trek geek that has watched a similar episode on the next generation series. Wait, I was watching that episode alone so forget about the human interaction thing:)

[Mas]

08:41 PM on 04/08/2012

Very close to the head instrument in the movie "strange days."

[socialtalker]

11:38 AM on 04/13/2012

i love that movie

[ZeroCoke]

02:01 PM on 04/08/2012

what if you already wear glasses?

[bikefolder32]

12:36 PM on 04/08/2012

It's addressing a need that doesn't exist. People weren't screaming for hands-free. You can still get beaned pretty severely by having things pop up in your visual field that you don't want there.

Example - you get a text message while walking the stairs going into a subway and "bam."

I doubt it would be as smooth as the demo video - NO ONE has perfected voice recognition software that works without hiccups. There will be people standing on sidewalks shouting to themselves, repeating commands because the software can't hear them over the sounds of whatever else they're around (cars, other people's conversations). "Reply, d_am_mit!"

It's not a "walk around all day" with it kind of device. It could be useful in a workspace, but not for the person going about their day walking or driving around.

Humans aren't designed to be wired - you need fresh air, touch, movement. People wonder why we have an epidemic of depression - this is why.

[onewhothinks]

01:28 AM on 04/09/2012

That last point you make seems to contradict your first, seeing as how hands-free devices are meant for precisely that sort of purpose - being able to use the device without settling down in one spot. And I, for one, frequently use my phone for directions in new areas; I'd say this seems remarkably useful.

[bikefolder32]

05:43 AM on 04/09/2012

There's no contradiction - when people use technology, it needs to be tactile where they can pick it up and put it down and walk away from it. They don't need to be connected to it constantly, even if it allows them to move.

Sorry, but I disagree with you. There was a day and age where we were able to navigate without a cell phone in our hands. It's not an improvement to have it show up in front of our retina.

[LLNYRN]

12:07 AM on 04/08/2012

WE ARE THE BOR....THE GOOGLE!

YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED!

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!

[Jim Fourniadis]

09:33 PM on 04/07/2012

Resistance is futile...

[Lonnie DeVorak]

07:08 PM on 04/07/2012

This is definately on my "Gotta Have" list!

[Samwise1948]

02:53 PM on 04/07/2012

Would these be legasl to wear while driving? You can't have a TV screen in your car where the driver can see it, at least in some states, cause that can distract the driver. I read where a woman was given a ticket in CA. because the temple pieces on her sunglasses were too wide and blocked her periphal vision. So, how legal will it be to wear these so uncessary items? And, if they are going to release experintmental versions later this year, they should be giving them away, not charging people to use them and help work out the bugs!

[onewhothinks]

01:33 AM on 04/09/2012

Generally speaking, review or test copies of a product are free, at least with most software products and some physical devices. And as for the legality of driving with them, they'll probably have to make some prototypes and see how much the interface interferes with skills driving (if at all) before that can be determined.

[firewired]

01:55 PM on 04/07/2012

Imagine all the users who use the glasses while walking, bumping into others, arms flailing out to reboot, etc. Even worse, imagine all those DRIVING while using the glasses, waiting for their email to load! And then there are the mindless wandering cell phone bots......

[Johnangry]

02:13 PM on 04/07/2012

That's why they're putting out cars that drive themselves. It's the 21st century. Come out of your 19th century outhouse thinking process.

[firewired]

04:32 PM on 04/07/2012

Totally un-called for! Go bark at the moon! Does stupidity know ANY bounds?

G E E Z EEEEEEEE! Hope your mom takes away your computer!

[BIGBUFFB52]

11:01 PM on 04/08/2012

That was uncalled for. Read, Firewired wrote while driving not while riding. P.S. outhouses are a lot better than leaning against a tree.

[Johnangry]

04:37 PM on 04/07/2012

I doubt your reply will be approved. Was all of that necessary and my mother passed away a decade ago.

Shame on you. Shame on the awful things you say.

[firewired]

04:40 PM on 04/07/2012

It was, after you started something by stating "Come out of your 19th century outhouse thinking process"

I doubt your reply will be approved, either.

[rough neck]

01:42 PM on 04/07/2012

when you ave money you can do anything to raatid

[jeremyemilio]

01:07 PM on 04/07/2012

And so the cyborg age begins...

[NormalMike]

12:45 PM on 04/07/2012

they stepped up the nerd bar on this one. its dorkier that a bluetooth headset and cell phone belt clip combined.

[Anybodyseenthepopos]

12:45 PM on 04/07/2012

Not a chance in hell.

[Jamdaman]

12:10 PM on 04/07/2012

if they actually do what their little video showed (i'm skeptical) I would most definitely get these. I don't see why so many people on here are against them. It's the next logical step in this sort of technology, all hands-free requiring as little effort to manipulate as possible. These actually remind me of the book 'Feed'

[sb1285n]

01:46 PM on 04/07/2012

People always have trouble with new technology. Just think about the backlash of VHS to DVD or DVD to Blu-ray, SD to HD display, dial up to Broadband internet.

Every time I hear someone complain about a new technology like this I want to tell them they sound like their parents.

[Johnangry]

02:14 PM on 04/07/2012

Oh, SB, you can say it. Most Americans are small-townish and stupid. It's true, so you CAN just say it.