Get your hands on Project Glass before the rest: just use #ifihadglass

Do you want to be one of the first people to experience Google’s next-gen augmented reality super specs before they’re available to the public? Now there’s a way: and all you have to do is cough up US$1 500 and hit social media with a hashtag.

The Google Glass team announced today that it is opening applications for members of the general public to get involved in the Glass project. These bold and creative ‘Glass Explorers’ will be “part of shaping the future of Glass”, and will be invited to (pay for and) pick up their personal headset in New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles after the application deadline on 27 February.

Google is inviting all US citizens who want to get involved (and who meet certain terms and conditions) to post a motivation to Twitter or Google+ using the hashtag #ifihadglass, along with photos or a short video to support their application. These Glass Explorers will be the first people outside of Google’s staff, some fashionistas and the attendees of Google’s 2012 I/O developer conference who pre-ordered the specs to get their hands on the futuristic gadget.

The updated Google Glass site also shows off some new product shots of the glasses in five different colours (black, white, grey, sky blue and tangerine) and a new video showing what you could do if you put on a pair of the glasses. Featuring everything from an ice sculptor and a ballerina to a rushed traveller running through an airport, the video gives another glimpse into how the world would look wearing Glass. It also suggests that the device will be largely voice-controlled: for example, you can say “take a picture” to get Glass to take a snapshot, and speak to send a message or do a Google search.