Google is offering 8,000 of its new Glasses for sale – to get your hands on one, you’ll have to pay $1,500 and convince Google you’re worthy of wearing it, George Stahl reports on Digits.
眼鏡可導航！Google宣佈公開測試
2013-02-22
Web only
作者：經濟學人
去年，Google宣佈已開發Google眼鏡，讓世界各地的電腦狂皆為之心動；Google眼鏡是一副連接網路的智慧型眼鏡，可
以拍照、攝影，並展示取自網路的資訊。當時，Google表示會在2013年初，讓一小群開發者進行語音控制的公開測試；而在2月20日，Google宣
佈現在希望能讓更多人加入，一窺其新技術的未來。
Google推出了網站，讓想申請加入測試、又付得出1500美元的人參考，同時也貼出了一段影片，在各種情況下展示其性能，包括道路導航、照相等等。資訊和影像會出現在在使用者視線的上方，螢幕則是連接在彈性鏡架上，此外，眼鏡架上還有攝影機、麥克風和電腦。這款新設備仍處於發展初期，也還有很多改善空間，例如裝有電池的粗大鏡腳等等，但Google顯然希望更多人參與測試可以加快改善腳步，同時也能引起眾人的興趣。Google表示，他們希望能找來各種不同的族群進行測試，也希望測試者可以透過社群媒體來分享使用經驗。
Google的行動再次顯示，穿戴式科技市場雖然尚未成熟，但發展腳步也非常快。日本的Olympus等企業亦在實驗智慧型眼鏡，此外還有可以進一步讓螢幕更為縮小的有趣技術。
市場最近出現了許多與智慧型手錶有關的消息，謠傳蘋果和三星都在設計可以連結網路的手錶，Google也申請了一項專利，顯示其眼鏡技術也有機會用在手錶之上，Pebble等小型新創企業則想儘快推出它們的智慧型手錶。這些發展都絕對值得關注。（黃維德譯）
Sightseeing trips
Google Glass
By The Economist
From The Economist
Published: February 22, 2013
From The Economist
Published: February 22, 2013
LAST year Google whet the appetites of geeks everywhere when it announced that it had developed Google Glass, a pair of web-connected smart glasses that could take photos and videos, and display information gleaned from the internet. The firm said it would launch a public trial of the voice-controlled specs with a small group of developers early in 2013. On February 20th it announced that it now wants a broader group of people to join the developers peering into the future using its new technology.
The company has launched a website for folk who want to apply to test the Explorer trial version of its glasses and who are willing to cough up $1,500 for the privilege of having them. It has also posted a video (see below) that shows how the specs can be used in various situations, including navigating on a road and taking photos of memorable moments. Data and images are displayed on a tiny screen that appears at the top of a person's field of vision. This is mounted in a flexible frame that also incorporates a camera, a microphone and a computer.
Although its new gadget is still in its early stages and has plenty of room for improvement (not least in the design of the bulky arm that houses its battery), Google is clearly hoping that a broader field test will help it to iron out imperfections faster, as well as stoke interest in the device. It says it is looking for a diverse group of guinea pigs willing to share their experiences with the gizmo via social media.
The web giant's move is another sign that the nascent market for wearable technology is developing fast. Other companies such as Japan's Olympus are also experimenting with smart goggles and there is much interesting work being done to shrink displays even further, as Babbage has noted elsewhere. There has also been plenty of action recently in the market for smart watches that link wirelessly to people's smartphones. Rumours have been flying that Apple and Samsung are working on web-connected timepieces and Google has also filed a patent that suggests its Glass technology could be used on wrists too. Small start-ups such as Pebble are busily churning out smart watches as fast as they can. All of this is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
2月21日，谷歌推出了第一台自行研發的觸控式螢幕筆電Pixel Chromebook。
穩坐智慧型手機市場領導品牌的谷歌，在去年6月推出平板電腦Nexus 7，正面迎戰微軟、蘋果之後，再次和兩大品牌對決。從行動市場到筆電，三大品牌之間的捉對廝殺，仍將是2013年科技產業的重大戲碼。
這款新筆電最令人注目的特色，便是螢幕。除了觸控功能之外，2560x1700的解析度，是一般高解析度電視的兩倍多。谷歌表示，這款筆電將交由台灣廠商負責生產，但並未指名是哪一家。
根 據彭博社報導，這款新筆電將鎖定高階市場，Wi-Fi版售價為1,299美元（約台幣39,000元），有別於先前三星與宏碁代工的平價 Chromebook。4月時將推出LTE版，售價為1,499美元。軟體部分，承襲Chromebook的獨特優勢，不內建軟體系統，而是運用網路應用 程式，另外並贈送一年1TB的網路儲存空間。
根據《華爾街日報》報導，Chrombook試圖從筆電與平板電腦市場中另闢新徑，Pixel主要鎖定電腦重度使用者，谷歌將其定位為個人的「另一台電腦」（additional computer），可以用來從家庭中的其他電腦獲取資料。
然而，筆電市場已成了電腦界沒落的「傳統產業」，在高階市場還要面臨蘋果MacBook的強勢競爭，讓人不免對Pixel的未來抱持些許的疑慮。
不
過，近年谷歌展現了發展硬體的強烈企圖心，除了Chromebook之外，另一個重要的產品Google
Glass則是讓人期待。根據《紐約時報》報導，谷歌找上網路眼鏡公司Warby Parker，針對Google
Glass設計出更時尚的眼鏡框。目前谷歌正尋求少數幾位符合資格的程式開發人員，預計今年將會開放給一般大眾購買。（吳凱琳編譯）穩坐智慧型手機市場領導品牌的谷歌，在去年6月推出平板電腦Nexus 7，正面迎戰微軟、蘋果之後，再次和兩大品牌對決。從行動市場到筆電，三大品牌之間的捉對廝殺，仍將是2013年科技產業的重大戲碼。
這款新筆電最令人注目的特色，便是螢幕。除了觸控功能之外，2560x1700的解析度，是一般高解析度電視的兩倍多。谷歌表示，這款筆電將交由台灣廠商負責生產，但並未指名是哪一家。
根 據彭博社報導，這款新筆電將鎖定高階市場，Wi-Fi版售價為1,299美元（約台幣39,000元），有別於先前三星與宏碁代工的平價 Chromebook。4月時將推出LTE版，售價為1,499美元。軟體部分，承襲Chromebook的獨特優勢，不內建軟體系統，而是運用網路應用 程式，另外並贈送一年1TB的網路儲存空間。
根據《華爾街日報》報導，Chrombook試圖從筆電與平板電腦市場中另闢新徑，Pixel主要鎖定電腦重度使用者，谷歌將其定位為個人的「另一台電腦」（additional computer），可以用來從家庭中的其他電腦獲取資料。
然而，筆電市場已成了電腦界沒落的「傳統產業」，在高階市場還要面臨蘋果MacBook的強勢競爭，讓人不免對Pixel的未來抱持些許的疑慮。
【新聞來源】Google Debuts Touchscreen Chromebook in Hardware Push
Google Developing Touchscreen Devices Using Chrome Operating System
Google Searches for Style
A Titan’s How-To on Breaking a Glass Ceiling
By JODI KANTOR
Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, has written a
book- slash-manifesto that she hopes will spur a women’s movement.
蘋果押寶腕錶背後的謀略
報道 2013年02月20日
為什麼是iWatch而不是iGlasses呢？
周一，我在專欄中說蘋果公司(Apple)正在實驗一種電腦，可以戴在手腕上。有些讀者問道，蘋果顯然是在實驗可佩帶電腦，為什麼不直接做一副增強現實技術的眼鏡呢？
回答這個問題的最好方法是，看看蘋果的觸摸板。蘋果筆記本的觸摸板是一塊方形平面板，具備多點觸控功能，沒有任何按鈕。現在蘋果的台式機觸摸板也是如此。但是，觸摸板並非一開始就是這樣。
曾經有很多年，蘋果筆記本的觸摸板，一半是觸摸板，一半是個單獨的大按鈕，可以點擊。隨着公司推出多點觸控功能，就不再需要那個按鈕。敲擊一下觸摸 板就相當於單擊。但是蘋果並沒有直接砍掉這個按鈕。蘋果是在推出幾代筆記本的過程中，漸漸取消這個按鈕的，使用戶能夠適應沒有按鈕的觸摸板。
首先，蘋果給鼠標板加了多點觸控功能，隨後，大按鈕變小了一些，然後，按鈕消失了，但是整個鼠標板都可以點擊了。現在，鼠標板已經完全是個多點觸控的方形平面板了。
蘋果在打入可佩戴電腦領域時，也會這麼做。對消費者來說，要戴上自己的第一台可佩帶電腦，手腕不是個令人感到害怕的部位。畢竟，我們在手腕上戴一台 小電腦已經幾十年了，就是腕錶。（對於20世紀70年代的許多人來說，一塊電子錶，有的還具備小型計算器功能，那就是他們的“第一台”電腦。）既然智能手 機正在取代手錶的地位，手腕是讓客戶接受第一款可佩戴電腦的最佳部位。
對於日常生活中的電腦，有些人仍然心有畏懼。你覺得他們會怎麼看待綁在自己身上的電腦呢？
這就是iWatch這種裝置的好處了。（不管蘋果計劃怎麼命名它。）把它看成那種有着超大按鈕卻沒有多點觸控功能的第一代鼠標吧，蘋果可能也是這麼定位iWatch這種裝置的。
這跟谷歌(Google)的路線不同。谷歌直接從面部入手，製作現實增強功能的谷歌眼鏡(Google Glasses)，為人們推出可佩戴電腦。但是眉毛下面掛一台電腦，可能會讓一些消費者感到害怕。相比較而言，手腕是個不那麼嚇人的部位。
儘管，五年或10年後，我們可能會戴着蘋果眼鏡走來走去，但是，蘋果公司在可佩帶領域的首個產品將是戴在手腕上的。
In my column on Monday I reported that Apple was experimenting with a computer that could wrap around a person's wrist. Some readers asked why the company, which is clearly experimenting with wearable computing, wouldn't just make a pair of augmented-reality glasses instead?
For years, Apple's laptops were half Trackpad, half a single large clickable button. As the company introduced multitouch, it no longer needed that button -- one tap acted like a single click -- but the company didn't just lop it off. It eliminated it slowly over several versions of laptops so consumers became accustomed to its absence.
At first the mouse pad was given multitouch, then the large button was made slimmer, then the button went away, but the entire mouse pad became clickable. Today, it's just a flat multitouch square.
Apple will do the same thing with its foray into wearable computing. The wrist is not a scary place for consumers to add their first computer. After all, we've been wearing a type of computer there for decades: the wristwatch. (For many of you in the 1970s, a digital watch, some with a mini-calculator, was your first computer.) Now that the wristwatch is being supplanted by the smartphone, the wrist is the perfect place to introduce customers to a computer they can wear.
Some people are still intimidated by regular computers. How do you think they will feel about one strapped to their person?
Enter the iWatch, or whatever the company plans to call it. Think of it as the first mouse with a really large button and no multitouch. That's how Apple is probably thinking about it, too.
It's a different approach from the one taken by Google, which is going straight for the face, making its augmented reality Google Glasses to try to introduce people to wearable computers. But some consumers will very likely be intimidated by a computer hanging from their brow. The wrist, in comparison, is not as scary.
Although five or 10 years from now we could well be walking around with Apple glasses on our faces, the company's first push into this world of wearables will be through the wrist.
周一，我在專欄中說蘋果公司(Apple)正在實驗一種電腦，可以戴在手腕上。有些讀者問道，蘋果顯然是在實驗可佩帶電腦，為什麼不直接做一副增強現實技術的眼鏡呢？
曾經有很多年，蘋果筆記本的觸摸板，一半是觸摸板，一半是個單獨的大按鈕，可以點擊。隨着公司推出多點觸控功能，就不再需要那個按鈕。敲擊一下觸摸 板就相當於單擊。但是蘋果並沒有直接砍掉這個按鈕。蘋果是在推出幾代筆記本的過程中，漸漸取消這個按鈕的，使用戶能夠適應沒有按鈕的觸摸板。
首先，蘋果給鼠標板加了多點觸控功能，隨後，大按鈕變小了一些，然後，按鈕消失了，但是整個鼠標板都可以點擊了。現在，鼠標板已經完全是個多點觸控的方形平面板了。
蘋果在打入可佩戴電腦領域時，也會這麼做。對消費者來說，要戴上自己的第一台可佩帶電腦，手腕不是個令人感到害怕的部位。畢竟，我們在手腕上戴一台 小電腦已經幾十年了，就是腕錶。（對於20世紀70年代的許多人來說，一塊電子錶，有的還具備小型計算器功能，那就是他們的“第一台”電腦。）既然智能手 機正在取代手錶的地位，手腕是讓客戶接受第一款可佩戴電腦的最佳部位。
對於日常生活中的電腦，有些人仍然心有畏懼。你覺得他們會怎麼看待綁在自己身上的電腦呢？
這就是iWatch這種裝置的好處了。（不管蘋果計劃怎麼命名它。）把它看成那種有着超大按鈕卻沒有多點觸控功能的第一代鼠標吧，蘋果可能也是這麼定位iWatch這種裝置的。
這跟谷歌(Google)的路線不同。谷歌直接從面部入手，製作現實增強功能的谷歌眼鏡(Google Glasses)，為人們推出可佩戴電腦。但是眉毛下面掛一台電腦，可能會讓一些消費者感到害怕。相比較而言，手腕是個不那麼嚇人的部位。
儘管，五年或10年後，我們可能會戴着蘋果眼鏡走來走去，但是，蘋果公司在可佩帶領域的首個產品將是戴在手腕上的。
Why Apple Is Working on an iWatch and Not iGlasses
February 20, 2013
Why an iWatch and not iGlasses?
In my column on Monday I reported that Apple was experimenting with a computer that could wrap around a person's wrist. Some readers asked why the company, which is clearly experimenting with wearable computing, wouldn't just make a pair of augmented-reality glasses instead?
The best way to answer that question is to look at the company's Trackpad. The Trackpads on Apple laptops, and now for desktops, are flat squares that offer multitouch controls and have no buttons. But that wasn't always the case.
For years, Apple's laptops were half Trackpad, half a single large clickable button. As the company introduced multitouch, it no longer needed that button -- one tap acted like a single click -- but the company didn't just lop it off. It eliminated it slowly over several versions of laptops so consumers became accustomed to its absence.
At first the mouse pad was given multitouch, then the large button was made slimmer, then the button went away, but the entire mouse pad became clickable. Today, it's just a flat multitouch square.
Apple will do the same thing with its foray into wearable computing. The wrist is not a scary place for consumers to add their first computer. After all, we've been wearing a type of computer there for decades: the wristwatch. (For many of you in the 1970s, a digital watch, some with a mini-calculator, was your first computer.) Now that the wristwatch is being supplanted by the smartphone, the wrist is the perfect place to introduce customers to a computer they can wear.
Some people are still intimidated by regular computers. How do you think they will feel about one strapped to their person?
Enter the iWatch, or whatever the company plans to call it. Think of it as the first mouse with a really large button and no multitouch. That's how Apple is probably thinking about it, too.
It's a different approach from the one taken by Google, which is going straight for the face, making its augmented reality Google Glasses to try to introduce people to wearable computers. But some consumers will very likely be intimidated by a computer hanging from their brow. The wrist, in comparison, is not as scary.
Although five or 10 years from now we could well be walking around with Apple glasses on our faces, the company's first push into this world of wearables will be through the wrist.
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