Google designs 'Terminator-style' HUD glasses

Google is rumored to be developing a set of high-tech, Terminator-like glasses that will provide users with real-time information about their surroundings and communicate with Android-based devices.

Technology blog 9to5Google reports that the Google [x] Glasses are similar in appearance to Oakley's Thumps.

"These glasses, we heard, have a front-facing camera used to gather information and could aid in augmented reality apps," said 9to5Google. "It will also take pictures. The spied prototype has a flash —perhaps for help at night, or maybe it is just a way to take better photos. The camera is extremely small and likely only a few megapixels."

Contrary to previous reports, 9to5Google says that the glasses will feature a heads-up display (HUD) in one eye only. The HUD will be situated to one side of the glasses because it is not transparent said the blog.

Google is reportedly using head tilts to control the prototype glasses, a user input method that 9to5Google says quickly "becomes second nature and almost indistinguishable to outside users."

Technology companies are investing more money and resources into new user input methods (like gesture, proximity and voice control) as consumers spend increasing amounts of time with their devices.

"People are not going to put these devices down in the near future," says The New York Times in an article about Apple's secret plans to create tiny wearable computers that link with i-devices.

During the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier this year, Motorola showed off a head-mounted mobile PC called the Kopin Golden-i headset. The headset has a virtual 15" display and is driven by speech and head gesture control.

Google's glasses are still a long way off but the company is reportedly considering a beta-pilot program -- similar to last year's Cr-48 Chromebook trial -- to gauge consumer demand.

A Google spokesperson told Relaxnews that Google had no news to share about glasses.