Google have unveiled Project Glass - their research into augemented reality glasses.

In a post on Google+, they revealed a video, prototype photos and are now inviting the community to give feedback on the idea. The glasses provide a graphical overlay onto the lenses, providing live information such as directions, weather reports, diary reminders, text messages and video chat - all whilst the wearer goes about their daily business.

The Project Glass video shows how this technology may be brought to life. They’re probably a long way off their final design and there are a stack of unanswered questions it’s raised that Google will either eventually answer or are still seeking to understand themselves.

Assuming Google can get the user experience nailed, the opportunities for a product like this are enormous. Mobile networks, consumer brands, financial institutions and social networks would all like the opportunity to be permanently connected to their customers (right in front of their faces!) and it also provides a huge amount of new revenue generation potential.

There is no announcement as to when the glasses may be available but you can place your bets that the likes of Oakley and Ray-Ban will already be emailing their Google contacts to talk about potential tie-ups.

Just like microwaves, text messaging, BlackBerry mail, Facebook and pausing live TV; Project Glass could well become one of those products you think you can do without……until you start using it.

Here’s the video that Google posted on YouTube:

We’ll be watching Project Glass closely - through our own glasses.