Though Google Glass debuted with a tremendous amount of hype, the futuristic wearable quickly became the butt of a long-running joke about tech products that no one really wants or needs. Having used Google Glass myself a few times, I can personally attest that the device, while housing incredibly advanced technology, seemed fundamentally pointless.
DON’T MISS: Kids have hilarious reactions when using the original iPod
So when Google in January of 2015 announced that development on Google Glass prototypes would cease as the the product “graduated” from the company’s secretive Google X labs, no one was all that shocked. What was surprising, however, was that Google Glass development was being moved to its own independent division headed up by the iPodfather himself, Tony Fadell.
Interestingly enough, it turns out that Fadell himself sees a lot of potential in Google Glass. In a recent BBC interview, Fadell noted that his new position as the overlord of all things Google Glass “wasn’t handed to me.”
On the contrary, Fadell pro-actively campaigned for the job.
“I remember what it was like when we did the iPod and the iPhone,” Fadell explained. “I think this can be that important, but it’s going to take time to get it right.”
While most people remain skeptical that Google Glass will ever become a mainstream success, Fadell’s glowing track record shouldn’t be overlooked. In addition to playing instrumental roles in the development of both the iPod and the iPhone, Fadell is also the man who helped co-found Nest Labs, an innovative home hardware company that was acquired by Google for $3.2 billion in January of 2014.
