Remember Google Glass? Those wearable glasses that could take a picture with the blink of an eye and were long thought to be left for dead? Well, a new version of Google Glass is said to be on the horizon, though it may have some unexpected competition — the 3RDi wearable.

The 3RDi was founded by 3rdiTEK. It resembles a headband with a camera placed in the middle. The camera has auto focus and is high definition. You tap the left side of the device if you want to take a picture without a flash, the right side for a picture with a flash and slide your finger if you want to take a video.  You can then upload the picture or video to your favorite social media account.

Based in Montreal, Canada, the company launched an Indiegogo campaign in order to raise money for the project. “What you see is what you get,” says the company’s co-founder and CEO Michael Khalil in a YouTube video.

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The fall of Google Glass

Khalil was referencing 3RDi. With the device, you can capture life’s precious moments anytime and anywhere. Nevertheless, the gadget could be set up for failure, since it bears a striking resemblance to Google Glass.

Google Glass actually began strong. The device took a turn for the worse when so-called nerds starting wearing the device in public. People didn’t take kindly to the idea that they could be filmed at any given moment. The nerds protested, claiming they were at the forefront of the “Enlightenment.” As a result, people started referring to Google Glass wearers as glassholes. The name calling got so bad that even Google itself requested them to stop.

Many “glass holes” were requested to leave bars and restaurants. The device was criticized by many as a gadget without a purpose. In addition, the original Google Glass cost up to $1,500. That’s a lot of money for a device with no clear use. As a result, the tech giant decided to discontinue the device in mid-January 2015.

The company spent too much money on Google Glass to completely scrap the project. They insisted the product was still in development and a new version would likely be released by the end of the year.

How does 3RDi compare to Google Glass?

So, does the 3RDi compensate for Google Glass’s shortcomings? It’s too soon to tell. Nevertheless, Khalil does set out to clearly define the purpose of 3RDi in his YouTube video: to “capture your life instantly and easily while enjoying the present moment.”

And unlike Google Glass, 3RDi is also much easier to wear during strenuous activities. “The versatility of the 3RDi is amazing. You can play basketball and capture your game. It’s basically like comparing a PC (Google Glass) and a Mac (3RDi),” explained Khalil.

“Going to a concert? Don’t need to hold your smart phone for 2-plus hours to catch everything on video. Just put on you 3RDi and capture away,” he added.

Nevertheless, 3RDi doesn’t circumnavigate around all the difficulties of Google Glass. One of the main problems of Google Glass is that it just looked, well, plain creepy. 3RDi has much work to do in terms of its aesthetic appeal. As the name suggests, 3RDi looks like a third eye or a bindi. People who wear glasses are already jokingly referred to as “four eyes.” Does anyone, apart from a handful of nerds, want to bear the image of a triclops?

3rdiTEK emphasizes that the device debuted by the company on YouTube was just a prototype. If they manage to raise a $250,000 funding, the final product will be more stylish.

Ultimately, however, 3RDi still runs the risk of committing the same problem that ran Google Glass into the ground — namely, people don’t appreciate having their privacy infringed upon by some nut with a camera attached to his head.

What if an individual accidentally takes a picture in a restaurant or movie with the flash on rather than off? This will likely broil the same complaints made against glassholes, which drove them out of restaurants and bars.

Should we say sayonara to this cyclops technology? Only time will tell.

The 3RDi may literally never see the light of day anyway. As of this writing, the company has only managed to raise $458 of its target $250,000.

Sources:

Cnet.com

Cnet.com