Google executive and researcher Babak Parviz will be leaving the company for a position with Amazon, he revealed cryptically in a Google+ post.
Parviz led the development of Google's Glass wearable tech product. He had already stepped aside as the head of the Glass project.
Saying only that he was "super excited" in the post that also sported an Amazon logo, Parviz provided no other details about his role at Amazon other than "moving to Amazon and work(ing) on a few other things now..." in his Google + profile.
Amazon has been moving aggressively into electronic hardware, a category that currently includes Amazon-branded products in smartphones, streaming television, tablets and e-readers. Wearable tech would seem to be the company's next frontier.
Parviz has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. In addition to being a prime contributor to the Google Glass project, Parviz was also in the midst of developing glucose-tracking contact lenses that would eliminate the need for diabetics to draw blood to measure glucose levels -- the lenses have sensors that detect glucose content in tears. The lenses are at the multiple clinical site research stage, and the company has already had discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A Google blog post on the lenses states that "chips and sensors so small they look like bits of glitter, and an antenna thinner than a human hair" may be able to track glucose levels with great accuracy.
The Glass product consists of a miniature camera and screen mounted on what look like eyeglass frames. It is in the front lines of the advancing wearable tech revolution. Part of Parviz's motivation for moving to Amazon could be his quest for even more innovations in mobile and computing technology. He was recently quoted at technology conference as saying "Google Glass is one answer to that question. It's not necessarily the definitive answer."
Parviz had recently stepped aside from his Google Glass role, and was replaced by Ivy Ross, a former marketing executive with Art.com. Ross has an extensive fashion industry background.
In May, Google launched its Explorer program, essentially allowing consumers to help beta-test Glass with a limited time offer to buy Glass for what will be an extremely-below-market-price of $1,500. For that price, the beta tester gets the hardware, a cable and charger, a mono ear bud, carrying pouch and a choice of shade or frame.
Neither Amazon nor Google has yet to comment on Parviz's Google+ revelation.
