We may only be a few weeks into 2014, but one thing that's already clear is that this is going to be a big year for wearable technology. Not only are existing devices getting refreshed with updated hardware and software, but more companies are introducing entirely new products to compete for a piece of your body, including the likes of LG and Sony. Samsung is one firm that's long been vying for a space on consumers' wrists, most recently with its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, and now it appears that the South Korean company has its sights set on shoppers' eyes.
According to unnamed Samsung officials speaking to The Korea Times, Samsung is prepping its own pair of smart glasses that are currently being referred to as "Galaxy Glass." The unit, which Samsung has already applied for a patent for in Korea, is expected to be capable of connecting to a smartphone and displaying notifications from the handset as well as take calls and play music. Galaxy Glass will reportedly feature a translucent lens on which its notifications will be shown.
"The new smart glass to be introduced by Samsung is a new concept of wearable device that can lead to an exciting culture of communication," a Samsung official explained to The Korea Times. The execs reportedly said that Samsung is working to officially introduce Galaxy Glass as early as IFA 2014 in Berlin, which runs from Sept. 5 through Sept. 10.
It was discovered last year that Samsung had filed for a Korean patent on "sports glasses" that could connect to a smartphone and display information from it in addition to playing back music and handling calls. The product described in today's report sounds an awful lot like those sports glasses, so it's possible that Samsung liked the concept of the device so much that it decided to actually develop it and bring it to market.
Interestingly, it sounds like Samsung could be planning a one-two wearable punch that mirrors its flagship Galaxy smartphone strategy. A recent rumor suggested that Samsung may be prepping a new Galaxy Gear smartwatch that will debut alongside the Galaxy S5 this spring, and typically we see a new Galaxy Note smartphone in the fall at IFA, which is the same time that this Galaxy Glass device is rumored to be coming. If today's leak holds true then it means that we're still a ways off from the official debut of Galaxy Glass, but I'm sure that the rumor mill will help to feed our hunger for information in the mean time.
What do you think of smart glasses like Google Glass and this rumored Galaxy Glass? Would you be comfortable walking around in public with one of those devices on your head?
Via SamMobile, The Korea Times