Google Glass Explorer Programme to end as project gets dedicated development team
Company says it’s a good thing, as device exits lab to pursue consumer future
Google’s wearable experiment hasn’t yet become a mainstream must-have, so today’s news that the Glass Explorer Programme is concluding means it’s a bust, right? Not exactly.
Indeed, Google will close the early adopter-focused Explorer Programme for its Glass smart glasses next week, on 19 January, meaning there will be no official avenue for the average consumer to purchase the device for the foreseeable future.
But Google says it’s not the end at all, but rather the next step in the continuing evolution of the device and push towards wider consumer viability. With this move, the Glass group is “graduating” from its experimental stage and home under Google[x] and will have its own dedicated team.
And that team has a new and prominent leader in Tony Fadell, the CEO of Nest (purchased by Google last year) who is perhaps better known for leading the team at Apple that created the iPod. Glass won’t be coming under Nest, but he’ll oversee the project from within Google and work on the next step in its evolution.
If you want to get in on the current-gen model of Glass, you only have a few days to act. Otherwise, stay tuned: “We’re continuing to build for the future, and you’ll start to see future versions of Glass when they’re ready,” reads Google’s post. “(For now, no peeking.)”
READ MORE: Next Google Glass powered by Intel
Andrew Hayward
Freelance Writer 
