Ion Glasses Are a Stylish Alternative to Google Glass

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By Lauren Indvik2013-09-29 16:33:28 UTC

Since the first unveiling of Google Glass, there's been no shortage of promised alternatives. The vast majority are being touted by indie manufacturers, who have turned to crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to raise the funds to bring their prototypes to market.

The latest contenders to enter the space are a group of engineers from Elche, Spain, who have developed a stylish range of prescription lens-compatible frames that are able to communicate with a wearer's iOS and Android devices.

Called Ion Glasses, they function much like a smart watch or any other Bluetooth-enabled smartphone companion, allowing users to communicate with their smartphone or tablet without having to take them out of a handbag or pocket. For example, wearers can see notifications for incoming calls, texts, emails and calendar appointments. They can also control some functions of their devices remotely, such as turning a smartphone's music on or off while it sits in a speaker dock, or having it take a picture from several feet away.

Of course, Ion Glasses don't offer the full array of functions that Google Glass does (i.e. they can't capture photos or videos), but they replicate the best or — depending on your perspective — worst part about Glass, which is the ability to communicate and access cloud or wireless-based services without having to look down at a screen.

The team aims to raise $150,000 on Indiegogo to fund manufacturing development. Those who pledge $79 are promised a pair of optical frames (prescription lenses not included), which are set to ship in Feb. 2014. For $99, you can get the sunglasses version of the frames. As of writing, the campaign has raised a little more than $8,600 towards its goal.

Would you wear Ion Glasses? Tell us in the comments, below.

Image: Ion Glass

Topics: Apps and Software, Dev & Design, Gadgets, Mobile, Tech