Time Calls Google Glass "Best Invention Of The Year"

This week the folks at Time magazine have released their yearly "Best Inventions of the Year" list and on it is none other than our good pal Google Glass. This device was revealed in pieces throughout the year and received its very first developer-grade pre-release at this year's Google I/O convention. Users are able to wear the glasses and see a computer interface near their eye as well as take photos with a nod – the final iteration of this device may well be released inside 2013; we'll just have to wait and see!

With Time's list comes a lovely new photo of what very well could be the final release version of Google Glass – aka Project Glass as it was titled back at the first general reveal. This headset computer shows a user interface in a transparent block of glass in front of the users' left eye. Gestures with the head, turns, and movement of the eye control what happens inside the computer, the bulk of which exists above the users' right temple and down the side of the eyeline towards the ear.

The ear also has an earpiece and speaker which will inevitably work to allow the user to make cellular voice calls and take commands – the mic is there, you just can't see it! This unit also shows clearly that the front-facing camera will be a large element of the whole experience, both for reading the general information about the location the unit is in as well as taking photos and video.

Time's information on Google Glass notes that, "consumers should be able to buy Google Glass by 2014." According to the information we have on the project, the developer edition of the device will be sent out early in 2013 – perhaps some quick development from there will commence. Have a peek at the timeline below to see a collection of updates from the past few months to get up to speed – and see you soon with the final unit!