[Julio8771]

Google Glass, the web giant's augmented reality spectacles, create sound by sending vibrations directly through the wearer's skull, it's been revealed.
Documents filed with American regulators show the hardware, due to be introduced in later this year in an experimental form, uses "bone conduction" to create sound instead of a traditional speaker.
The technology, which sends vibrations to the inner ear through the skull, is not new but has not been widely adopted. Panasonic introduced a prototype set of bone conduction headphones at this year's Consumer Electronics show, however.
A major advantage of bone conduction audio is that it allows the listeners to hear the noise in the environment too. For a Google Glass wearer crossing a busy street the technology could be a life saver.
Google filed a patent for bone conduction spectacles last month, and the Federal Communication Commission this week published it approval for Google Glass, including "integral vibrating element that provides audio to the user via contact with the user's head".EPUB Converter
Google's co-founder Sergey Brin, who is leading the development, has already been pictured testing Google Glass on the New York subway.
As well as unusual audio, the spectacles feature Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity, and a small screen that appears in the wearer's normal field of vision. The tiny computer inside Google Glass runs the Android mobile operating system and responds to voice commands.
It is planned that wearers will be able to summon up maps and other useful data from the web with having to look at a smartphone or other mobile device.
The first complete Google Glass hardware will be sent to developers who have paid $1,500 to help the firm refine the technology. Google has said it hopes to introduce Google Glass commercially in 2014.

[Jazmac]

I'll pass on that like I passed on Google wave.

[Stephen Vogel]

Hmmm, I don't know if I like the thought of all that WiFi, skull vibration, Bluetooth stuff going on right next to my brain :-)

[conanheath]

Hmmm, I don't know if I like the thought of all that WiFi, skull vibration, Bluetooth stuff going on right next to my brain :-)

+1. I've killed enough brain cells in my life already.

[Corey]

One step closer to a CODEC.

[SnailUK]

You can actually buy headphones that use the same method to play music. Its pretty similar to how some hearing aids work.

It would be interesting to try them, see how effective they are.

[Sam Sabri]

Cool. Read more about it here on wikipedia - bone conduction.

[interopbyt]

With all those radio waves that probably aren't the most healthiest thing to expose your head to, I would probably pass on it too.

[ryker002]

That doesn't sound too safe.... But then again what do all the kids say? YOLO
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 using Board Express

[BIGPADDY]

That sounds painful I'll rather wait for smartphone to shoot out holograms and make cups of tea