Google’s biggest failure is back, and this time it may stick around.
Glass, the smart glasses that never quite took off, has been resurrected by Google for factory workers. It’s already being deployed and tested by companies across the United States, like Boeing and GE.
After a buzz debut in 2012, Google Glass failed to deliver on the high expectations that many had for the product. It was glitch-prone and had little utility for most users at the time.
After getting burned, Google is cautious. It’s hoping to find success with a workplace-focused augmented reality device for the healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing industries.
This latest iteration, dubbed Google Glass Enterprise Edition, has an upgraded camera, longer battery life, as well as faster connectivity and processing. According to Wired, it’s also made a modular version, called the Glass Pod, which clips on to safety goggles and prescription glasses,
Wired reports the rollout of the Enterprise Edition has been small so far, with only several hundred orders, with its largest orders on a trial basis. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, only revealed its partnerships for Glass on Tuesday with a call for more business to join them.
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