Sony shows off its SmartEyeglass concept at MWC 2014

At MWC 2014 Sony is showing off its own answer to Google Glass, or at least a prototype of it. The Sony SmartEyeglass concept is a wearable device that has a design that’s a bit more ‘traditional’ looking than than Google Glass. Whether you consider it more or less attractive is probably a matter of personal taste.

As for what it does? The SmartEyeglass is designed to bring notifications and information right in front of a users eyes by utilizing a binocular see-through eyewear display. On the downside, the display only supports monochrome green — at least for now.

Unlike Google Glass, the Sony SmartEyeglass has a separate wired controller for navigating the UI and snapping pictures using the embedded camera. This approach seems a little impractical since you’ll have a wire hanging from your glasses, but it’s important to remember this is a prototype. It’s hard to say whether this will be the final design if or when Sony decides to commercialize the SmartEyeglass. In addition to using a wired controller, Sony’s glasses also communicate with your Android devices using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Right now Sony is working with select partners on an SDK and is testing and evaluating the APIs and the device’s potential. The SDK itself is built on a similar framework as the SmartWatch 2, and will allow developers to eventually create apps that take full potential of the SmartEyeGlass’ microphone, accelerometer, gyro, compass and brightness sensors.

What do you think of the Sony SmartGlass prototype? If Sony can refine the design (and hopefully ditch the tethered controller), would you be interested if the headset was commercially available?