Introduction to Project Moohan and Android XR Glasses
Project Moohan looks like a traditional VR or AR headset. The Android XR glasses, on the other hand, have a display embedded in the right lens. This display shows information right in the middle of the user’s vision, unlike Google Glass, which projected its UI toward the corner of the user’s vision.
Design and Features of Android XR Glasses
The glasses have a camera, microphone, and open-ear speakers, all of which blend well into a body that barely looks any different than a pair of normal eyeglasses. The only hint of "smarts" are the chunky temples that house the silicon and battery. They connect to a phone wirelessly, leveraging the same Gemini Live that you can access with the Gemini app.
Using the Android XR Glasses
The XR glasses have a touch-sensitive region on the temple, which you can long-press to activate Gemini. A tap pauses and unpauses the AI assistant, which is important because it’s very verbose. The demo area for the Android XR glasses was a maximalist playground with travel books, art, various tchotchkes, and an espresso machine. Because Gemini is seeing everything you do, you can ask it things on the fly—Who painted this? Where was this photo taken? Does that bridge have a name? How do I make coffee with this thing?
Gemini Answers Your Questions
Gemini answers those questions (mostly) correctly, displaying text in the lens display when appropriate. The glasses also support using the camera to snap photos, which are previewed in the XR interface. That’s definitely something you can’t do with the Meta Ray-Bans.
AI for Your Face, Later This Year
As Google announced at I/O, everyone now has access to Gemini live on their phone. So you can experience many of the same AI interactions that are possible with the prototype specs. But having Gemini ready hands-free to share your perspective on the world feels different, allowing for smoother access to AI features.
Conclusion
The Android XR glasses are a significant step forward in augmented reality technology. With their sleek design, advanced features, and seamless integration with the Gemini AI assistant, they have the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with information and the world around us.
FAQs
- What is Project Moohan?
Project Moohan is a traditional VR or AR headset. - What is the main difference between Google Glass and Android XR glasses?
The main difference is that Android XR glasses have a display embedded in the right lens, while Google Glass projected its UI toward the corner of the user’s vision. - What features do the Android XR glasses have?
The glasses have a camera, microphone, and open-ear speakers, and they connect to a phone wirelessly using the Gemini Live app. - What is Gemini?
Gemini is an AI assistant that can answer questions and provide information based on what the user is seeing. - When will the Android XR glasses be available?
The glasses are expected to be available later this year, although an exact release date has not been announced.
