Google Glass is closing in on work environments

With all the Google-related headlines focused on Chrome, maps and self-driving cars, memories of Google Glass as poised to become the next big thing for consumers at large have faded, until this week, when Google Glass has resurfaced in headlines in many tech-watching sites.

They are referring to a story by Stephen Hall, senior editor of 9to5Google, who discussed an Enterprise Edition of Google Glass as nearing final production.

The spectacle of spectacles in the wearables category is to be foldable, more water resistant— with tightened buttons to close off areas where liquid could seep into the device—and sturdy for workplace settings.

This, said Hall. is a spinoff from the Explorer Edition. It is a revision where in the place of a focus on fashion, fun and urban lifestyle scenarios, the focus is on practical use cases in work settings, which include the factory floor and hospitals.

Hall pointed out that one can expect to see a revision, not a dramatic change in this edition. There will be no drastic departure from Explorer here—the same computer hardware along the right side and a prism in front of the right eye.

One of the telling differences, however, is that the device folds like regular glasses, said Hall. There is a "robust hinge mechanism that allows the computer and battery modules to fold down like a regular pair of glasses, and a hinge for folding down the left side of the band as well."

Also, sources familiar with the device prototypes said to expect (1) a larger prism display for better viewing and (2) an Intel Atom processor that brings better heat management, performance, and moderately improved battery life.

Distribution model? Another nuance, and such a concept. Instead of second-guessing what consumers will covet in a product, the Enterprise device is to be available through partnership channels that have already spelled out what they want. Earlier this month, Hall reported that "everything Google is shipping, from the device's larger prism to an external battery pack, is being built according to the feedback of the Glass for Work startups."

Who will get it and how: The distribution will not involve any retail story, said Hall. Instead, Google is setting up a distribution system through Glass for Work partners.

Google has described the model as involving "Glass Certified Partners" authorized by Glass at Work for delivering enterprise solutions for Glass. "They are also eligible for co-branding and listing on the Glass at Work website."

Hall said that, "From being shown to those most in-the-know within Glass for Work startups to some that have already been deployed for certain use cases, Google is clearly testing the device much more broadly and most certainly has plans to make it official in some capacity in the relatively near future."

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