FYI…
- http://time.com/4121895/google-star-trek-communicator/
"Google developed a prototype wearable device based on the communicator in Star Trek. In science fiction, Captain Picard and his crew used their lapel pins to talk to the artificial intelligence and crew onboard the Starship Enterprise. In real life, the search giant created a circular device with a built-in microphone and Bluetooth allowing it to connect to a smartphone. The prototype was described to TIME in an interview by Amit Singhal, the executive in charge of the firm’s search initiatives. The concept -was- intended to test out how users might interact with voice search in new ways. Worn on the chest, the Google pin was activated with a light tap…"
… a final frontier too far for Google
- http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2436103/star-trek-communicator-prototype-was-a-final-frontier-too-far-for-google
Nov 23 2015 - "… as yet the Bluetooth device, which would have hooked into Google Now in the same way that Picard's hooked into their all-knowing ship's computer, hasn't left the testing phase. In this particular case, the boffins were looking for other ways for users to interact with Google. Some make the grade, some, like Google Glass get into the public domain before they are cancelled, and then some never see the light of day, at least till now. But if Google doesn't want it, you can bet some Kickstarter campaign will. Google engineers are generally sci-fi fans and often use the technology from their favourite shows as a jumping-off point for ideas…"
