Google Project Glass spills more prototype secrets

Another public outing for Google's Project Glass has spilled even more details about the wearable augmented reality headset, including some of the first indications of just what's visible through that single display. New glimpses of the prototypes have been shown courtesy of a Google Glass Walk that took place earlier this week in San Francisco, including what seems to be the first shot of the headset not actually being worn.

That reveals a small power button recessed into the rear of the body of the eyepiece, over a microUSB port presumably for charging and flashing software. The label, meanwhile, flags Project Glass as having not passed FCC testing; it's unclear if the protruding section just next to it is a cushioning pad of some sort or a button, triggered by pushing the body of the headset in against the wearer's head. The image below shows what's believed to be a camera button on the top edge of the eyeband.

Still, don't get too comfortable with Project Glass as it is today, as there's still a long way to go – aesthetically as well as functionally – before anything you might be able to pick up in a store.

"These are very early prototypes, mostly hand assembled and no where near what the final product will look like" Chris Chabot, of Google+ Developer Relations said in response to a spec question. "So all those specs are likely going to change dramatically before they get close to even being in beta."

Nonetheless, we can get a slightly better idea is what sort of picture is shown in the eyepiece itself, though Google is still being cautious about who they allow to try Project Glass on outside of the team itself. Although they warned that the attention-grabbing demo video may have over-promised what users actually will see through, it looks like there's more on show than just the basic iconography floating at the periphery of the wearer's vision that was suggested instead.

[Thanks Steve!]