Google Glass distribution begins this week to selected contest winners, computer programmers

The Google.com/glass microsite from the web giant offers specs and images of the forthcoming Google Glass product, such as this one. (Google)

Apr. 4, 2012: Google's Android-powered, augmented-reality glasses would show maps, video chats, photographs, and even allow the user to shop online -- all at the blink of an eye. (Google)

Google is starting to distribute its new Internet-connected glasses, something seen as the next breakthrough in mobile computing.

Google has picked 8,000 people in the U.S. who entered a contest. The winners will have to pay $1,500 apiece for a test version of Google Glass. The company also took an unspecified number of orders from computer programmers.

Google said Wednesday it started making the glasses available Tuesday, though it may take weeks for recipients to get them.

The excitement stems from a belief that Google Glass is at the forefront of a new wave of technology known as "wearable computing." Published reports say that Google, Apple Inc. and others also are working on Internet-connected wristwatches.

Google hopes to lower prices by the time it's on the mass market next year.