Google Glass Shows Off New Interface, Impressive Functionality, Elite Availability

When Google released their original concept video for Project Glass last April, it seemed like the company was still struggling to dream up an interface that wasn't, at its core, a smartphone screen for your eyeballs. There would be pop-up notifications for text messages, calendar reminders, and weather alerts; there would be applications, like Maps, that would show up in front of you as a large, mostly opaque, smartphone-screen-shaped window; there would be a Siri-like voice command function. In short, Project Glass seemed poised to produce a more convenient version of something that already existed.

But that was last April. Today, Google released a demo video showing off the new Glass interface--an interface that, from the looks of it, feels like something new:

As PCWorld points out, the new video also demonstrates some previously unknown functionality, like an advanced and fully integrated voice command system, a translator, Google image search, and Google Now integration.

The device is not yet available to the general public, but Google is taking applications for an elite set of initial users it's calling "Glass Explorers." Think you might qualify? Here's what to do:

• Your application must be 50 words or less
• You must include #ifihadglass in your application
• You can include up to 5 photos with your application
• You can include a short video (15 secs max)
• You must be at least 18 years old and live in the U.S. to apply