A new patent application by Microsoft, that was published yesterday, shows the tech giant is working on its own Google Glasses-like project.
Unlike Google Glasses, however, Microsoft's glasses-based heads-up display system is focused around providing supplementary information during live events - not general everyday life.
The patent application, titled "Event augmentation with real-time information", first spotted by Unwired View, describes the system as follows: "A system and method to present a user wearing a head-mounted display with supplemental information when viewing a live event.
"A user wearing an at least partially see-through, head-mounted display views the live event, while simultaneously receiving information on objects, including people, within the user's field of view, while wearing the head-mounted display. The information is presented in a position in the head-mounted display which does not interfere with the user's enjoyment of the live event."
With the focus on live events, Microsoft appears to be counting on the user being fairly still while using the heads-up display. A key possible application would be live sporting events, where the user could view supplementary information about the sports people, league scores and other detailed real-time information.
The patent was initially filed in May 2011, and it is unclear whether Microsoft is going ahead with production.
Google went public with its Project Glass plans in April, and Google CEO and co-founder Sergy Brin showed off the prototype of the glasses at the company's developer conference in June.
The search giant is expected to roll out a consumer version of the eyewear in less than two years. Developers will be able to order their own pair of Google Glasses as early as next year though.
The Google Glasses feature a stamp-sized screen mounted on one side of a pair of glasses frames. Google Glasses are expected to be paired with an Android smartphone, and through the incorporation of a wireless networking chip, the glasses are able to access e-mail and text messages, retrieve information from the Web, and record and play video while also being able to capture still images.
According to Brin, Google is still playing with various features that could potentially be incorporated in the glasses - such as turn by turn navigation and voice control.
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