As many analysts are debating the downfall of Google Glass, the Wall Street Journal released a report saying that Intel will be delivering the processor for the second generation of the device.
The report sees this as a great chance for Intel to enter a new technology platform at its beginning after it missed entering the smartphone market at the right time. The current version of Google Glass contains a TI processor.
The WSJ sees this as not only a good starting point for Intel to enter this market, but also as being beneficial for Google because of Intel’s connections in the CE world, making this a symbiotic relationship rather than a design win. With all due respect to Google and Intel as important and market leading companies in their respective fields, neither has a reputation as a creator of successful CE devices.
While the report describes Google Glass as a consumer product, it sees two issues with the device. First, as has been widely reported, it raises privacy concerns. This might be an overreaction by many, given the real functionality of Google Glass but it’s a concern which certainly exists among the general public.
The second issue it that Google Glass is perceived as a nerdy device. While one can certainly see it that way, I would argue that the most nerdy device I can think of at the moment is a computer strapped to the wrist. Nevertheless this seems to be acceptable in the eyes of many. Of course if it fails to take off, we will certainly hear that argument as well.
The other point that the article discussed was that Google is, for the time being, focusing its development efforts on industrial and corporate markets with the second generation of Google Glass. This would be quite a change in direction from the earlier Google Glass approach. It does, however, put the device in the hands of consumers, even though not in their homes or outside, but in the workplace. In the workplace, devices fulfil functions and not fashion requirements (unless you work in the fashion industry, which ironically was the first official use for Google Glass). If functionality wins the user at the workplace, the consumer may also be willing to use it after he leaves work. This is a process that worked fairly well with the notebook computer, as Intel can attest. The WSJ report does state, however, that Google is still seeing Google Glass as a consumer device in the long run, with a release scheduled for 2015.
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The most important message for me here, is that Google is still moving forward with Google Glass, instead of letting the device die quietly. It seems the race is on for the 2015 release of Google Glass 2 with Intel inside. – Norbert Hildebrand
