Google Glass: Some Winners of 'If I Had Glass' Contest Disqualified

By Daniel Bean March 28, 2013

Image Credit: Google

Back in Feburary, Google began a social media campaign asking Twitter and Google + users what they would do if they had Google Glass, those futuristic, Internet-connected glasses that show digital information right in front of your eyes. Those with the best answers would be selected for the Explorer version of the glasses.

And now the results of that contest are in. Google began tapping winners of its #IfIHadGlass contest via Twitter and Google+ this week, awarding some hopeful Google Glass owners with the opportunity to buy their very own "Explorer" edition of the eye-glass computer device for $1,500 when they are made avilable.

Google says they are aiming to invite 8,000 applicants to become "Glass Explorers," but the contest hasn't gone without snags.

The Glass team posted to its Google+ account Wednesday to explain that some applicants, originally being notified as winners, have now had their submissions disqualified. Google said that some submissions that "don't comply with [the official terms of the contest] have slipped through the cracks," and those applicants will be recontacted and notified of their disqualification.

According to the terms of the contest, a Twitter or Google+ submission is ineligible if it's found to be "derogatory, offensive, threatening, defamatory, disparaging… or otherwise does not comply with the theme and spirit of #ifihadglass."

Here's an example of one of those mix ups:

But the Glass Explorer program is only the beginning. Google Glass is expected to be released publicly sometime in 2013, so no matter what you would do "if you had Glass," you might be able to buy your own pair by year end. The consumer release model is expected to cost less than the $1,500 price of the early Explorer edition.

Additionally, new information suggests the device may be manufactured in the U.S. The Financial Times has reported that "people familiar with the company's plans," are saying Google is working with Foxconn to assemble a factory in Santa Clara, Calif. When reached by ABC News, Google would not comment on the "made in the USA" report.

Domestic manufacturing wouldn't be new territory for the Google. Google's Nexus Q, an orb-shaped home entertainment device, was manufactured in California. Nexus Q features wireless connectivity to other Android devices to play music and video on your TV and home stereo system. The device was launched at Google's 2012 I/O conference and sold through the online Google Play store, but was discontinued.