Google Glass to face competition from 'Baidu Eye'

Baidu Inc, China's most popular search engine, has developed a prototype of a wearable digital gadget similar to Google Inc's Google Glass, reports quoting sources at the company said.

According to reports published in Chinese websites, the new gadget that leverages Baidu's strengths in image search and facial recognition could be superior to Google Glass in performance.

The prototype called `Baidu Eye', which resembles the Google Glass eyewear in its functionality, has features like LCD display, bone-sensing and voice-controlled image recognition.

`Baidu Eye' is currently undergoing internal tests and Baidu has not finalised any schedule for commercialisation of the product, Kaiser Kuo, Baidu's spokesman was quoted as saying.

According to Kuo, the device will be mounted on a headset with a small LCD screen, which will allow users to make image and voice searches as well as conduct facial recognition matches.

"What you are doing with your camera, for example, taking a picture of a celebrity and then checking on our database to see if we have a facial image match, you could do the same thing with a wearable visual device," Kuo said.

Baidu's wearable digital product is similar to Google Inc's 'Google Glass' – an electronic eyewear that can be used to live-stream images and audio and for computing applications.

Kuo, however, did not explain the other functions of the `Baidu Eye' nor did he give details of the wearable technology Baidu is working on.

Wearable technology is the latest technology fad that web users are expected to increasingly stay connected to, as laptops and other smaller mobile devices get outmoded.

Technology major Apple Inc is also reported to be working on a device similar to a wristwatch that would operate on the same platform as the iPhone.