Are you alert enough to drive? New smartphone-linked glasses from Japan can tell you that by tracking your gaze and eye movements.

Jins Meme glasses from Tokyo eyewear maker Jin can measure fatigue and concentration levels, alerting drivers to dangerous situations.

They can measure eye strain caused by looking at computer monitors for a long time, as well as track activities for health purposes.

The glasses can also be used to navigate smartphone displays simply by looking left or right.

At first glance, Memes seem to be ordinary glasses, but they contain small metallic electrooculography (EOG) sensors in the bridge, nose pads and the bars that rest on the ears.

The sensors sit on the nose and near the ears of the user, measuring the electrical potential in eye movements. The voltage differences between the cornea and retina can be translated into data for parameters such as alertness, according to Jin.

€Until now, glasses have only been used to see the outside, but now we can see what's going on inside the user,€ Jin President Hitoshi Tanaka told a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The company is calling Meme the first consumer eyewear of its kind to use EOG.

It weighs about 36 grams, and also contains a three-axis accelerometer and gyroscope, which can help track steps walked and calories burned.

The temple frames of the device house a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can power it for about eight hours. A headband attachment with a backup battery can double the operating time.

Meme can be fitted with prescription lenses and will be available in a variety of styles such as sunglasses.

Tanaka demoed the eyewear, showing how it can track gaze direction and blink duration in real time and send the data to a smartphone via Bluetooth. The smartphone menu would swipe left or right when he looked in those directions.

Analyzing the Meme data while comparing it to specific events along a timeline can show how interested a person is in something, he said.

An associated app for Windows, iOS and Android would tell office workers or drivers if they're €a little sleepy€ or more tired, with text and sound alerts.

The company, which previously marketed glasses that block fatigue-causing blue light from computer displays, sees a huge potential in EOG technology and plans to offer an SDK for app developers.

Jin plans to launch the Meme in spring 2015 in Japan, but said it hasn't yet worked out plans for possible overseas sales. It said the price is also yet to be determined.

Google Glass goes back on sale to the public

Google has put its controversial eyewear back on sale to the US public.

The firm is offering the 'explorer edition', the $1500 test version of the eyewear, for general sale after an initial 24 hour sale sold out.

It is believed the firm wants to increase the number of people people using the hardware - and potentially clear its inventory for the 'real' consumer version.

The firm announced a 24 hour sale last month after its plans were leaked, and the device sold out within hours.

Today, it reappeared online for sale to anyone if what is described as an 'open beta'.

'Whoops. So... we'd planned to post this next week, but it looks like the cat's out of the bag now,' Google said when its previous plans were leaked..

'Over the past several months, we've been trying out different ways to expand the Explorer program.

'Our Explorers are moms, bakers, surgeons, rockers, and each new Explorer has brought a new perspective that is making Glass better.

'But every day we get requests from those of you who haven't found a way into the program yet, and we want your feedback too.

'So in typical Explorer Program fashion, we're trying something new. '

Next Tuesday, April 15th at 6am PDT, the firm will allow anyone in the US to buy them.

'The number of spots available is limited, so mark your calendar if you want to get in,' the firm said.

Google will also include a free sunglass shade or one of its newly-introduced prescription glasses frames along with any purchase.

Those who currently own the device paid $1,500 to be part of the development process, exchanging ideas on improvements to the design and function in return for the coveted device.

With the release of the second-generation, those already enrolled in the Google Explorer program were able to 'invite' three of their friends to the scheme.

Reaction to the new design was mixed, with some critics saying changes to the device looked bulky.

Google has come under fire for the unfashionable look of Glass, although has developed its own frames for the system which allow prescription lenses, and partnered with Ray-Ban to develop fashionable frames.

However, the updates were welcomed by those who have a first-generation device, with comments on its Google + page commenting that the changes would improve user experience.

One owner, Dawn Martin, commented: 'My glass has been useless for phone calls and nav because I can't hear it well enough... yay for updates/upgrades!'

Another fan of the device, Jeremiah Townsend, commented: 'Can't wait... now that we'll be able to use them with prescription glasses, they'll be glued to my face.'»

Others however complained that the device was still not widely available.

However, the Google Explorer program has been praised for using a clever marketing model where people buy a product at its developmental stage so they can contribute to shaping its design.

'In essence Google has crowdfunded Glass and has shown big business how crowdfunding can be done. In essence it is a giant kickstarter campaign in all but name,' according to Forbes.

It estimated that Google would have earned about $50 million during the development phase as well as enhancing the desirability of the product.

sourceshttp://en.twwtn.com/Bignews/67325.html