Glass roadshow: Google to tour its face-based tech around the US

By Trevor Mogg September 27, 2013

Google Glass — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google is continuing its efforts to maintain a buzz around Glass prior to its release with the launch of a roadshow designed to show off its face-based gadget.

That’s right, the Mountain View company is taking Glass on the road, giving one and all the opportunity to try out its wearable tech and see what it’s all about.

The tour begins in Durham, North Carolina on October 5, so if you live nearby and fancy going along, put your name down here.

“We’ve heard lots of people are interested in experiencing Glass first hand, so we’re taking Glass to cities across the US to give you a chance to do just that,” Google said on Thursday.

The event will last all day, from 10am to 6pm, though there’s no information about how many people will be allowed to attend, with Google saying only, “You’ll be able to try on Glass, ask questions and chat with the Glass team in person.”

The roadshow will also be an excellent opportunity for Google to gather potentially valuable feedback from those interested in the device.

At the time of writing, Google isn’t revealing details on other cities and dates for its Glass tour – presumably it wants to see how popular the initial events are before drawing up a concrete plan. Either way, the company promises to post updates here.

The roadshow is confined to US cities, though you never know, if it proves a hit it could be rolled out in some form to other countries.

Google has been working steadily over the last 18 months to improve its smart glasses with the release of monthly software updates and by utilizing feedback from around 8,000 beta testers, known as Explorers.

The company is yet to announce an official launch date for the tech, though many expect it to hit the US market in the first half of next year. Europe-based Glass enthusiasts may have to wait ~~a little~~ a lot longer, however, as a report last week suggested ongoing privacy concerns regarding the new tech could delay its launch. In addition, Glass’s voice-recognition software is said to be having serious difficulties with non-American accents.

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Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

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