This Android XR Feature Convinced Me Smart Glasses Aren’t So Pointless After All

Source Domain: www.cnet.com

One of my biggest gripes when navigating a new area is that I’m too busy following directions on my phone to really take in my surroundings. But after trying on Google’s Android XR glasses, I’ve seen a promising solution.

At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, I got a demo of Google’s wearable prototype frames and was more impressed than I expected to be. I’m not big on wearables; I’m good with plain-old glasses and jewelry that can’t ping me with notifications throughout the day. But I decided to give the Android XR glasses a try as I explored a strip of the MWC conference hall dubbed Android Avenue.

With a thick black frame and clear lenses, the Android XR prototype glasses look rather unassuming — especially because the display in the right lens is barely perceptible. Once I put them on, I long-pressed the right side temple to trigger Gemini and ask questions about objects around me. Then my skepticism slowly began to dissolve.

The feature that really sold me was the Google Maps demo. I looked at a photo of Camp Nou and asked Gemini to “navigate here.” White text appeared in the center of the lens, showing me how far I’d need to go before turning right. And when I looked down, I could see a visualization of the route, like you’ll find in the Maps app on a mobile device, so I could just follow the highlighted path. That would solve my dilemma of wanting to know where I’m going while also trying to take in the view.

I also looked at a vinyl cover for the album Barcelona by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé and asked Gemini to play a song from it. The audio quality was impressively comparable to what I’d hear with headphones — but without the feeling of something in or on my ears, which I appreciated.

And lastly, I got a demo of live translation through the glasses. The Google employee showing me the prototype spoke in Spanish and then Farsi, and an overlay of text appeared as I looked through the glasses at him and my surroundings. Perhaps the…

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