Last Monday, Google published a European patent filing for its upcoming augmented reality (AR) smart glasses product. In the filing, Google secured a smartglasses design containing “beamforming” microphones for enhanced spatial audio.
Google’s advanced microphone design improves a wearer’s situational and directional awareness by spatially transmitting audio inputs from one user to another.
Google’s beamforming microphone patent also improves privacy by reducing the amplification of immersive remote communications between users so others do not pick up on a private conversation.
The patent filing states,
“The beamforming audio may have a technical effect of providing privacy by preventing or hindering the user from receiving audio from bystanders to a detected convocation”
Additionally, the device uses adaptive beamforming hardware to improve audio input and output responses when users move their heads, significantly reducing audio misalignment. The solution alters the microphone array when a wearer changes head orientation to achieve this.
Google also outlines other uses for the beamforming microphone. Most notably, the patent filling outlines how AR applications may use the technology to generate captions for text-to-speech and translation.
Google Glass Resumes Public Testing
Last month, Google established plans to start publically testing its AR smart glasses prototype. Google staff and “trusted testers” are trialling the hardware as part of a small-scale operation in selected US regions.
The public trials came after Google tested its AR prototype during a private in-lab period. Now, the Mountain View-based firm is taking to public spaces to monitor how its upcoming product can change the future of living and work.
This August, Google starts the testing period. The trials will track crucial hardware features, including in-lens displays, cameras, and microphones.
Google will test AR-ready features such as navigation and visual search. Additionally, Google may test features related to its new beamforming technology, such as translation and transcription.
Google is taking core considerations for public privacy during its testing period by not using the device’s photo or video recording features. The Mountain View-based firm also records spatial data for analysis and debugging, but the firm is only storing the data for 30 days to protect user data.
