Samsung files patent for Google Glass-like specs

The Associated Press Posted: Oct 25, 2013 10:01 AM ET Last Updated: Oct 25, 2013 10:01 AM ET

Samsung's sketch shows a thumbnail-sized display over the left eyeglass. Google's eyewear, shown above, has a tiny display over the right eyeglass that shows information and websites. (Reuters)

A patent filing shows Samsung Electronics Co. is working on a device it calls sports glasses in a possible response to Google's internet-connected eyewear.

A design patent filing at the Korean Intellectual Property Office shows a Samsung design for smartphone-connected glasses that can display information from the handset.

It said the glasses can play music and receive phone calls through earphones built into the eyewear's frame. It also gives hands-free control over the smartphone.

Reminiscent of the Google Glass design, Samsung's sketch shows a thumbnail-sized display over the left eyeglass. Google's eyewear has a tiny display over the right eyeglass that shows information and websites.

It was not clear from Samsung's sketch and description whether its eyewear would be equipped with a touch control and a camera like Google Glass nor whether it would connect directly to the mobile internet or be a slave to a smartphone.

Samsung's glasses are designed to connect to a smartphone, but it wasn't clear whether the device would be able to connect directly to the internet as well.

The name and the description specify the Samsung product is designed for outdoors activities or sports.

Samsung did not respond to an email and a call seeking comment.

Google Inc. is testing an early version of Google Glass with 10,000 people in the U.S. after giving the public a first look at its internet-connected eyewear in June last year. The early version can take pictures, record videos, navigate maps and works without a smartphone.

Other tech companies are also exploring ways to bring mobile computing to everyday objects such as watches and glasses.

Samsung introduced a smartphone-connected watch called the Galaxy Gear last month. Sony also announced a smart watch.

Samsung filed the application for the eyewear design patent on March 8.

October 26: There's Gold in Them Thar Trees Oct. 25, 2013 5:02 PM They say that money doesn't grow on trees. But it appears that gold does. Scientists in Australia have discovered gold particles in the leaves of eucalyptus trees that grow above gold deposits. And they might provide a natural detection system for mining companies.

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Researchers alarmed by 'puzzling' changes in resident orcas

A Vancouver Aquarium whale researcher is sounding the alarm over what he calls "puzzling" changes observed in the resident killer whale pods that live off the northern coast of B.C. and Alaska.

Dr. Lance Barrett-Lennard, a senior marine mammal scientist with the aquarium, says he fears changes in the ocean environment are prompting odd behaviour and an unusually high mortality rate, after spending the summer observing the whales aboard a research vessel.

Barrett-Lennard says one resident pod has lost seven matriarchs over the past two years, an unusually high death rate, and he's also noticed a lack of vocalizations from the normally chatty mammals.

“Resident killer whales are typically very vocal in the summer but, for the second year in a row, they have been remarkably quiet,” said Barrett-Lennard.

“So quiet that we often had difficulty finding them.”

The lack of vocalizations was just one of three unusual changes observed by the cetacean research team. Resident orcas were also seen the past two summers travelling in small groups, farther offshore to find food — behaviour more typical in winter than summer.

At the same time, the Barrett-Lennard says the number of normally transient killer whales, also known as the Bigg's whale, has been increasing over the past 25 years. In the 1990's, resident orcas were sighted much more frequently than Bigg's orcas, but now the number of sightings is nearly equal.

“It’s unclear at this point if the loss of so many matriarchs or the increase in Bigg’s killer whales is having an impact on resident killer whale behaviour, but the changes we’ve seen over the last two years are striking and beg an explanation," says  Barrett-Lennard.

The difference two years makes

The Vancouver Aquarium provided two audio recordings made near resident killer whales off B.C.'s Central Coast.

The first, from 2011, is full of many calls as well as echolocation sounds and is typical of the sounds of resident killer whales prior to 2012.

The second, from 2013, is much quieter and consists mainly of the echolocation 'ticks' that the whales use to find fish. "Communication calls are absent apart from a quiet call at the 15-second mark," the Aquarium says.

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