Microsoft is on it's way to jump right into the smart glass industry. Currently prototyping and testing, could they be ready to launch their very own glasses in time for the Google Glass release? For now it is more of a tease with tiny bits of detail. But, they are describing the glasses as “internet-connected eyewear”, which isn't much of a jump away of just saying it already! Microsoft smartglasses. That's not really going to be the name, I just tend to find it amusing when companies (ahem, Microsoft) throw out rumors which almost always end up being entirely truth. Unsurprisingly, other companies are aiming in the same direction. Recon instruments, for example, are currently prepping Reconjet glasses for March of 2014. Also, Samsung's Gear Glass is rumored to be in production now.

High-tech glasses are not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, they are expected to become a 10 billion dollar industry by 2016; also likely to be a niche market for a good few years until companies begin releasing all their versions. I start to wonder what this means and think to myself, “Good grief, are we all going to be wearing these things soon? Could it be just like us all having smartphones?”. I find the idea difficult to grasp for the following reason: despite the software giants out there making the prototypes and getting them ready for launch, why do I see myself and 98% of the people I know not wanting or needing them? I can tell you one thing, it's not because they aren't tech people. I could also be completely incorrect. Just like any tech, one day you think it is rather extravagant and the next you have that LED 32 inch in your living room.

Getting back to Microsoft's POV, why wouldn't they go this approach? This, smartglass hardware, could be the first category for them to jump into without being late to the game. Because “technology companies can't afford to wait”, a software giant like Microsoft would be foolish to not begin now. There are very little details on how they would work, however a few things were dug up out of an early Xbox One document. The document revealed that Kinect Glasses were dubbed “Project Fortaleza”, and also displayed images of Wi-Fi or 4G internet connected eye wear with augmented reality. So Microsoft, since you have been so late to the game with both smartphones and tablets, this is a true chance for you to lunge into the foray of wearables. We know they experimented with the smartwatch in 2004, but that was then and this is now. With Google being the highest competitor, lets hope that if this ever materializes, Microsoft does what they do best to drive consumer interest, and make sure to add in that oh-so-crucial right pricing strategy.