Google patents Project Glass design

16 May 2012 Last updated at 13:19 Images from the patents show different versions of the technology Search giant Google has patented the design of its augmented-reality glasses, known as Project Glass.

Three patents for a "wearable display device" with characteristics of the much-talked about futuristic glasses were submitted last autumn.

The patents reference such functions as displaying data in front of the wearer's eyes and playing audio.

In April, Google revealed details of its research into the glasses and showed a demo video of a prototype.

The patents show images of different versions of augmented reality glasses, some with lenses and some without.

Cyborg eye

Google is working on the project in its research lab, Google X.

The prototypes are currently being tested by the firm's executives, including Sergey Brin and Vic Gundotra.

The demo video showed science fiction-like glasses equipped with a microphone and partly transparent tiny screen right above the user's right eye.

The glasses are said to have many functions of a smartphone

Besides displaying information about the wearer's surroundings, the glasses were shown to be used to communicate with other people, browse the web, listen to music and also take photos.

Similar tech

There are other firms researching the augmented-reality eyewear.

For instance, Oakley is currently developing similar glasses targeted at athletes and other sportsmen and women.

A number of companies had attempted to pioneer the concept as well, but did not get very far because their versions required users to carry separate battery equipment, as analyst at Davies Murphy Group Europe told the BBC in an earlier interview.

"There are huge opportunities for tailored advertising with augmented reality systems - especially if they have in-built GPS location tracking," Chris Green said.

"The monetisation opportunities would be enormous - but there are still big issues involved with shrinking the technology and making the computer that receives and processes the data truly portable."

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'Drunk' man reportedly threatened British Airways crew with glass shard

By Rebecca Ruiz, Senior editor, msnbc.com

It seems some airplane passengers don't know their limits when it comes to alcohol and flying.

A little over a week ago it was reported that an intoxicated 18-year-old urinated on the cabin floor of a red-eye flight from Portland, Ore., to New York. Now a 32-year-old man has been accused of threatening a British Airways flight crew after they refused to serve him another alcoholic beverage.

According to the Telegraph, witnesses said the passenger, Tim Bradley, had been served several glasses of beer and wine before his outburst on the Aug. 20 flight from Phoenix to London.

"He was shouting at customers and crew, swearing, stumbling about the cabin,” Lesley Lewis, 31, of Southampton told The Sun, another UK paper.

"His swearing got louder and he was swearing at the manager of the crew. He pushed him in the galley and wanted to know why he was refused more wine."

Lewis reportedly saw Bradley return to his seat with a piece of broken glass and say, "I'll stab the pilots if they want."

British Airways confirmed the incident on Flight 288 in a statement to msnbc.com: "Although the cabin crew tried to pacify the passenger, his behaviour continued to be unacceptable and the flight was met by the police. We do not tolerate abusive behaviour towards our staff or customers."

Bradley was arrested when the 10-hour flight landed in London and will appear for sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court in west London on Sept. 23, according to the Telegraph.

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Rebecca Ruiz is a senior editor at msnbc.com. Follow her on Twitter.

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