标签: Glasses

My wife (Gina The Gorgeous) and I do not always agree when it comes to our television viewing pleasure.   For example, Gina is "glued to the set" when it comes to programs like Dance Moms and 19 Kids and Counting , which I regard as absolute dross. Contrawise, I can’t get enough of Doctor Who (although I'm still getting to know the new Doctor), while Gina... well, let's just say that she's not a huge fan.   On the bright side, we both love cooking programs like Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchen . In the case of Cutthroat Kitchen , which is hosted by Alton Brown, four chefs are challenged to cook gourmet dishes to be judged by a guest celebrity. The thing that makes this difficult is that Alton introduces "auctions" in which the chefs can purchase a variety of things to sabotage each other or to benefit themselves.   One such item in a recent replay was a set of prism glasses. The winner of this auction awarded them to one of his competitors, who had to complete the rest of the round wearing the little rascals.     I must admit that I was a tad intrigued. I started to wonder how the world would appear when viewed through these little scamps. I also wondered where on Earth Alton had found them, but it turns out they are readily available.   For example, when I bounced over to Amazon's website and searched for "Prism Glasses," I was immediately rewarded with these little beauties , which seem like a bargain at only Rs.481.82 ($7.95).   I am a weak man. I couldn’t resist. I immediately ordered a pair. When they arrived, I had a jolly interesting time walking around banging into things and tripping over the dogs and cats.   One of the things noted on the Amazon page was the fact that you could use these glasses to enjoy your favorite magazine, book, or television program while lying in bed. I must admit that I'd wondered why anyone (apart from me, of course) would purchase glasses like these. The bottom line is that, when we retired to bed that evening, I donned my prism glasses and reclined flat on my back to enjoy The Golden Girls .   To be honest, I'd sort of expected the prism glasses to offer a fairly pathetic television viewing experience, but -- much to my surprise -- they are actually rather good. Also, there's the added advantage that sporting these things does give one an air of... well, something or other. I'm reasonably confident that I'm the only person on our street who owns a pair of glasses like these. And, as I always say, you can’t put a price on style (LOL).

In many respects, my wife (Gina The Gorgeous) and I are not always on the same page when it comes to our television viewing pleasure.   For example, Gina is "glued to the set" when it comes to programs like Dance Moms and 19 Kids and Counting , which I regard as absolute dross. Contrawise, I can’t get enough of Doctor Who (although I'm still getting to know the new Doctor), while Gina... well, let's just say that she's not a huge fan.   On the bright side, we both love cooking programs like Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchen . In the case of Cutthroat Kitchen , which is hosted by Alton Brown, four chefs are challenged to cook gourmet dishes to be judged by a guest celebrity. The thing that makes this difficult is that Alton introduces "auctions" in which the chefs can purchase a variety of things to sabotage each other or to benefit themselves.   One such item in a recent replay was a set of prism glasses. The winner of this auction awarded them to one of his competitors, who had to complete the rest of the round wearing the little rascals.     I must admit that I was a tad intrigued. I started to wonder how the world would appear when viewed through these little scamps. I also wondered where on Earth Alton had found them, but it turns out they are readily available.   For example, when I bounced over to Amazon's website and searched for "Prism Glasses," I was immediately rewarded with these little beauties , which seem like a bargain at only $7.95.   I am a weak man. I couldn’t resist. I immediately ordered a pair. When they arrived, I had a jolly interesting time walking around banging into things and tripping over the dogs and cats.   One of the things noted on the Amazon page was the fact that you could use these glasses to enjoy your favorite magazine, book, or television program while lying in bed. I must admit that I'd wondered why anyone (apart from me, of course) would purchase glasses like these. The bottom line is that, when we retired to bed that evening, I donned my prism glasses and reclined flat on my back to enjoy The Golden Girls .   To be honest, I'd sort of expected the prism glasses to offer a fairly pathetic television viewing experience, but -- much to my surprise -- they are actually rather good. Also, there's the added advantage that sporting these things does give one an air of... well, something or other. I'm reasonably confident that I'm the only person on our street who owns a pair of glasses like these. And, as I always say, you can’t put a price on style (LOL).

The rumoured-to-be-forthcoming launch of Apple Inc.'s iWatch is only the start of a barrage of wearable computing gadgets expected to hit the market over the next few years. In recent weeks, major new organisations have reported that Apple is preparing a smart wristwatch computer that runs iOS and features a curved glass shape. Journalists and bloggers have pointed to mounting evidence, including patent filings , to suggest that the iWatch just may be Apple's next big thing. Google Inc. is also working on augmented reality glasses and plans to release a prototype version of its Google Glasses to application developers in the near future. Canon is already offering "mixed reality" glasses, but they cost $125,000 each . According to ABI Research, the iWatch and Google Glasses are just two of dozens of wearable computing gadgets soon to hit the consumer market. The research firm predicts a surge in popularity for such gadgets over the next year and says that a wearable computer "could be the norm for most people within five years." ABI projects that the market for wearable computing devices will grow to 485 million device shipments per year by 2018.   According to Josh Flood, a senior analyst at ABI, the furor about wearable computing devices, particularly smart watches and smart glasses, should come as no surprise. Both technologies are very stimulating and some of the applications for the device are rather inspiring, said Flood, in a press statement. "Apple's curved glass-based watch could prove to be a revelation in the wearable technologies market," said Flood. "The major question is whether the digital time piece will act as a complimentary device to the company's iPhone smartphones or as a stand-alone product with other functionalities like health or activity tracking capabilities." Today, sports and activity trackers account for the largest chunk of the wearable technologies market, according to ABI. About 61 per cent of the wearable technologies market is expected to be attributed to sport/activity trackers in 2013, according to the firm. Smartphone compatible watches are beginning to emerge. According to ABI, smart watches offer extra capabilities in an item most people already own and commonly buy. It may become universally expected for watches to include smart features in the future, ABI said. "The capabilities of smart watches could lead to the device being used as a wearable remote for home automation systems," ABI said. "A quick shake of your wrist to turn off/on room lights would be a very convenient tool." While rumour has it that iWatch will hit the market sometime this year, ABI said it expects smart glasses to also be available later in 2013. What other cool wearable computing gadgets are in development or should be?   Dylan McGrath EE Times