Google Briefly Re-opened Doors to Explorer Program

A number of Google Glass Explorer participants recently jumped on Google Plus to report of an email supplied by Google that allowed them to invite a single fiend to the Explorer program. It confirms recent speculation that the search engine giant was gearing up to expand the program that already has roughly around 10,000 participants. Unfortunately, this window of opportunity was short lived.

"We love demoing Glass to our friends," Google said in the email. "We've perfected our 'OK Glass, take a picture' faces so that the shot captures us smiling, laughing, and looking chic. Well, maybe not all at the same time."

"Mostly, we love sharing Glass with our friends, because adventures through Glass are more fun with others," the email continued. "Here's your chance to invite one friend into the Glass Explorer Program. Complete this form and share Glass with a friend, funny demo face and all."

As before, the potential Explorer candidate needed to be a resident of the United States, 18 years of age or older, and be able to pick up Glass in either San Francisco, New York or Los Angeles. The specs also cost $1500, so Explorer candidates needed that in hand when travelling to these three cities.

On Tuesday night Google's Glass-based community advocate Sarah Price called this offering an "experiment" and didn't seem convinced that every Explorer wearer would get an email. Three hours later, just past midnight, she confirmed that the emails had ceased for now. "Hey guys, confirmed, no more emails are going out right now for this experiment," she said.

Thus for a few short hours, Google opened up the Explorer program for a number of new users – how many too the bait is unknown at this point. Price indicated that more opportunities may arise, but when that will be is also unknown at this point. The expansion will likely be slow nonetheless given the delicate line Glass walks between a new era of information sharing and privacy invasion.