One man’s journey through augmented reality with a self-built version of Project Glass

Google’s Project Glass promises us a new kind of ubiquitous computing with a wearable heads-up display, but the actual glasses will be a long time coming. To test the concept for himself, AI researcher Rod Furlan pieced together existing parts from manufacturers (some of whom are now out of business) into a facsimile of Project Glass, then connected it to a repurposed iPod touch as an on-board computer. Furlan’s is hardly the first wearable display or hobbyist headset, but his experience wearing even his rudimentary design, as well as the “feeling of loss” he felt upon taking it off, is fascinating.