Google's smart glasses reportedly coming in 2012

Computerworld - Google will reportedly unveil computerized eye glasses by the end of the year.

The New York Times reported today that the Android-based goggles will be priced between $250 and $600, and include 3G or 4G data connections along with motion and GPS sensors.

And citing unnamed sources, the newspaper also reported that the glasses will have a small screen that will sit a few inches from a user's eyes.

Google has declined comment on reports about it plan to develop the eyeglasses.

Earlier this month, the website 9to5Google reported that Google has built a prototype of the glasses, which are equipped with processing power, storage capacity and Android phone functionality.

The glasses are said to resemble Oakley Thump products and incorporate a camera, microphone and speakers.

Google's glasses also are reported to have a heads-up display that's designed to overlay information on a transparent surface. Just as jet pilots are able to see elevation and direction information on their cockpit windshields, the glasses would flash information, such as the temperature, who's calling in and incoming texts, on the lenses, according to the reports.

The New York Times report said that Google is working hard to figure out the privacy implications of glasses that could surreptitiously record the activities of people with its built-in camera.

Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.0, emerging technologies, and desktop and laptop chips for Computerworld. Follow Sharon on Twitter at @sgaudin, or subscribe to Sharon's RSS feed . Her e-mail address is sgaudin@computerworld.com.

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