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Google releases full Google Glass explainer video

A video from the Web giant's presentation at SXSW shows what it's like to look through the lens of Google's Project Glass.

Dara Kerr Former senior reporter
Dara Kerr was a senior reporter for CNET covering the on-demand economy and tech culture. She grew up in Colorado, went to school in New York City and can never remember how to pronounce gif.
Dara Kerr
2 min read
Google co-founder Sergey Brin wearing Google Glass. James Martin/CNET

Google developer advocate Timothy Jordan envisions Google Glass, pardon the pun, as a way for people to distance themselves from technology. This seems a bit oxymoronic, however, considering it's a device people would wear on their face.

Jordan expounds on this idea and explains more about Google's wearable augmented reality project in a new video released today (see below). The video is a recording of Jordan's presentation at last month's South by Southwest Interactive conference.

"Project glass is about our relationship to technology. It's about technology that's there when you want it but out of the way when you don't," Jordan said in the video. "It feels like technology is getting in the way more than it needs to. And, that's what we are addressing with project glass. It's so that you can still have access to the technology that you love but it doesn't take you out of the moment."

The nearly hour-long video goes through what Google Glass can do, such as record videos, take photos, chat, get directions, look up facts on the Web, and more. Jordan gives viewers a preview of the project's Mirror API, explains how the device works, and plays a video of what it looks like through the lens of Google Glass.

He aims to show the audience that since Google Glass is worn on a user's face, it seamlessly becomes part of their everyday movements, thoughts, and actions -- which is unlike a smartphone that people need to dig out of their pocket or purse to check.

"This is the idea," Jordan said. "By bringing technology closer, we can get it more out of the way."

While Jordan said that Google Glass is still in its beginning stages and far from being done, reports say that the device is expected to arrive on the market for the general public later this year.