Newly discovered Google Glass patent shows Google toying with more fashionable designs

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Newly discovered Google Glass patent shows Google toying with more fashionable designs

While us Android nerds can all agree that while Glass is pretty darn awesome in function (and potential), it’s still is very much an eyesore when worn on the face as intended. Aside from its (likely) steep price point, the main deciding factor on those debating whether or not they’ll pick up Google’s face-wearable for themselves is what level of stupid they’ll look while wearing it.

We’ve heard previously that Google still has plans for prescription-friendly Google Glass, but weren’t sure if this meant Glass would come pre-mounted on frames, or via an attachment. Today, a newly discovered Google patent filed back in March of 2012 is giving us a better idea of what we might expect from Glass once the device is finally “retail ready” — a few of which include compatibility for prescription lenses.

In the patent we see Google toying with the idea of a more traditional glasses look. The 2 variations in particular show a design that splits up the camera module and display on each side of the frames, while another embeds a peephole camera directly into the center of the frames. While not quite as dorky looking as the prototypes we see out and about today, the added bulk of 2 separate modules seems more like pre-production designs that never made it off the cutting room floor.

As we’ve seen today, Google’s engineering team managed to fit both the display and camera into the same unit. That means we’re likely to see a design more like the image of the wooly beard-man we see above. Less bulk. More streamlined.

One of the biggest issues we’ve had with Glass was its poor battery life, addressed in another design featuring double batteries behind each ear (instead of just one like we see today). Google Glass Maxx, anyone? There’s quite a few design schematics, one showing Glass almost exactly as it is today. One thing is clear, Google had a lot of ideas when it came to Glass’ design. The real question is whether or not we’ll ever see these put into action.

[USPTO | via Engadget]

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