Google purchased Company called North, a business specializing in creating virtual reality glasses. Earlier today, the companies announced the news, saying that "technical experience" from North would help Google invest in its "hardware initiatives and the future of ambient computing."
The specifics of the contract were not disclosed including how much Google paid. With the purchase, North says it will wind down the functionality of its Focals smart glasses, meaning wearers who spent up to $ 1,000 on a first-gen pair last year will soon not be able to use them.
North launched the Focals 1.0 in January 2019 and reduced their price almost in half to $599.99 within a month of launch.
The glasses feature a tiny laser in the arm projecting images before user's eyes. Via Bluetooth, the Focals pair to wearers' phones to show alerts, provide directions and call Uber. The company revealed in December of last year that it would stop manufacturing the original version to concentrate on a second-generation pair. The company is no longer planning to release the unit, North says in announcing its acquisition.
The brief run to North in the sale of smart glasses was not easy. Last year, the company laid off 150 employees to keep the business afloat. Employees have alerted the company's leadership that the glasses are too male-oriented and overpriced.
Still, after its acquisition by Google, the company will remain in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada, and Google says it will continue to focus on ambient computing or create a world where tech is "fading into the background." Google also says it's "committed to the the global tech community" in North 's hometown.
Of course, Google has continued to drive its Google Glass technology forward, making it a tool for companies and developers alike. Since Glass first launched seven years ago, it gave up on a mobile headset. It is uncertain if North will assist in the production of that drug, although its IP and experience would certainly not hurt.
