Google’s Project Glass pulls open the curtains on Google X, the company’s bet on dream tech

A top secret lab located somewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area, Google X is focused on “pie in the sky” ideas. Google won’t say what the lab’s engineers are working on, but here’s a look at some of the speculation in the press.

5 Seconds

00:00

Augmented reality glasses

On April 4, Google's Project Glass revealed a prototype of the long-rumored Google glasses. The specs would augment the wearer’s reality via the power of the Web, allowing them to access tools such as Google Maps and video chat as well as share photos and videos with friends on Google+.

Google /

Augmented reality glasses

Google released a video on YouTube that follows a day in the life of a Google glasses user. The new technology is still and testing and allows the wearer to connect with the Web.

Space elevator?

This has been an obsession for many scientists for decades. This artist’s rendering of the platform of a space elevator is based on Bradley C. Edwards's idea of a room that climbs 62,000 miles into space.

Anonymous / AP

Space elevator?

An artist’s rendering of a different angle of a proposed space elevator is shown in this undated image released by the Institute for Scientific Research. Although outsiders laugh, the institute Edwards works for has a NASA contract, and he has said he thinks an initial version could be operating in 15 years.

Anonymous / AP

Robot workers?

In this Feb. 16, 2011 photo, Reimers Electra Steam President Roger L. Burkhart talks with a robot that is communicating with electrical engineer Erwin Deininger to perform his duties at his business in Clear Brook, Va.

Jeff Taylor / AP

Robot workers?

Ubix staff member Takashi Iijima looks at "Ubiko," a middle-size service robot, at the company's office in Tokyo, in November 2006. The robot-on-wheel is part of a crew of temporary workers that a Japanese job-referral company hopes will be used at stores, events and even weddings.

Junji Kurokawa / AP

Driverless car?

Google's Sebastian Thrun, who co-invented Google Street View, is reported to be working on a car that drives itself. In this photo taken April 1, 2010, of an unrelated project, Stanford graduate student Mick Kritayakirana shows the computer system inside a driverless car on the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, Calif. The car, named Shelley, is the latest vehicle engineered by Stanford University researchers who are developing technology that could help make driving safer and one day allow ordinary vehicles to drive on their own.

Paul Sakuma / AP

Driverless car

The auto industry has also been exploring driverless car technology. In an illustration provided by General Motors, an all-around collision warning using traditional sensing is shown. Automakers and parts suppliers are working on similar systems, and GM chief executive Rick Wagoner will devote part of a Tuesday speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to electronically controlled driverless cars. The plan is to use an inexpensive computer chip and an antenna to link vehicles equipped with radar-based cruise control, lane change warning devices, electronic stability control, satellite global positioning systems and digital maps.

/ AP

Interconnected home appliances and dinner dishes?

Engineers have been talking about home appliances and dishes that talk to one another for years, but could Google X finally make this a reality?

Len Spoden / McInturff Architects

Internet of Things?

The vision of a world where every item and person is tagged with a chip that helps identify them and communicate with everything else is becoming more and more of a reality every day. Workers stand on a cherry picker in front of a banner with a large mobile phone as preparations for at IFA, one of the world's largest trade fairs for consumer electronics and electrical home appliances, in Berlin.

Gero Breloer / AP

Google co-founder Sergey Brin, left, along with Google chief executive Larry Page and Chairman Eric Schmidt, is said to personally oversee the Google X lab.

Chris Pizzello / AP

Back to gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.