With the Google Glass Enterprise Edition limited to factory workers, trainers, and technicians, Google currently doesn’t have a similar product for the general public. But things could change with its upcoming AR Glasses, which could be the spiritual successor to Google Glass. Having learned from Google Glass’ failure, its upcoming smart glasses don’t capture video or photos for users because of privacy concerns.
Instead, Google’s AR Glasses will be used to break down language barriers: If someone is talking to you in a foreign language, it will transcribe the audio and relay the translated subtitles to the glasses in real time. It can also translate sign language — and if you’re deaf, it could also be helpful to understand people who don’t know sign language. Unlike Google Glass, the AR prototypes come with LED indicators that will let other people know when the camera is recording. The information recorded by the AR Glasses when it’s translating will be stored on Google’s secure servers and automatically deleted after 30 days. However, Google says that it won’t upload any data with private information such as license plates, faces, and signs to its servers.
Google’s AR Glasses are currently in the beta phase, and the tech company has not revealed if and when they would be available for the public.