Google Glass firmware's new features may include voice commands like Call Me a Car
- 18 October, 2013 08:32
Google appears to be preparing many more features for Google Glass ahead of an eventual public launch.
Google appears to be preparing many more features for Google Glass ahead of an eventual public launch.
An examination of the latest Google Glass firmware by Android Police hints at what features may come to Google's high-tech specs. Most notably, users could have a much longer list of voice commands to work with.
Here's the full list of new commands that Android Police spotted in the firmware:
- Add a Calendar Event
- Call Me a Car
- Capture a Panorama
- Check Me In
- Create a 3D Model
- Find a Recipe
- Learn a Song
- Play a Game
- Play Music
- Record a Recipe
- Remind Me To...
- Show a Compass
- Start a Bike Ride
- Start a Round of Golf
- Start a Run
- Start a Stopwatch
- Start a Timer
- Translate This
- Tune an Instrument
Apps may provide some features
Keep in mind that not all Glass functions are built in by default. Some of them are enabled by third-party apps. (For instance, Glass users can currently say "Take a Note" to record their thoughts in Evernote.) Commands such as "Tune and Instrument" or "Start a Bike Ride" could very well be tied to a third-party app. Right now, the app selection on Glass is tightly restricted, but that could change with a proper app store coming next year when the device is supposedly coming available to the general public.
Related to the "Play Music" functionality, the latest firmware hints at music controls coming to Glass, with mentions of album art, track listings, and a radio icon. It's possible that users could someday play music through the device, but the more-likely possibility is remote playback controls for other devices, such as televisions and tablets.
The other big discovery is the theoretical expansion of eye controls for Glass, with a "double blink" detector mentioned in the firmware. I say "theoretical" because Google does not officially support eye control, though the unsanctioned " Winky" app allows users to snap photos with a blink. Google is treading lightly with eye controls due to the privacy implications, but we do know the company is interested in eye tracking as an advertising tool.
The current "Explorer Edition" of Google Glass is only available to a limited number of people who filled out an application, at a price of $1,500. Google hasn't said when it will launch a final product for consumers, but sometime next year seems likely. In the meantime, some of the features of Glass, such as Google Now integration , could also find their way into a smartwatch if recent rumors prove accurate.
