Remember the Google Glass? The smart eyewear Google once designed and then killed? Well, it turns out that Google never really killed the product. Instead, it turned the Glass into a smart product meant for enterprises. A new report by Wired says that the Google Glass is currently in use in dozens of companies, including AGCO, Boeing, Volkswagen and DHL. The company has apparently been selling a new and improved version of the Google Glass Explorer Edition, which was first seen in 2013.
According to the Wired report, Alphabet commissioned a small team within Google X to continue work on Google Glass. “Now the focus was on making a practical workplace tool that saves time and money,” says the report. The new product is called the Google Glass enterprise Edition. “What started as pilot projects are now morphing into plans for widespread adoption in these corporations. Other businesses, like medical practices, are introducing Enterprise Edition in their workplaces to transform previously cumbersome tasks,” the report states.
The Enterprise Edition reportedly has a new camera, upgraded from 5 megapixels to 8 megapixels. It also has longer battery life, supports faster Wi-Fi and a faster processor inside. A red light is turned on whenever the Glass is recording video. Google’s even added some modular elements to it. The camera button can also be used to detach the electronics part of the Google Glass, and this can then be attached to safety shields and even regular glasses. The electronics part is apparently known as the Glass Pod.
While Wired’s report says companies are using Google Glass Enterprise Edition on a trial basis right now, the product may be ready for more. Google hasn’t sold a lot of units just yet, but Wired quoted Project Head Jay Kothari, who said that while the project was an experiment three years ago, Google is “in full-on production” with its customers and partners now.