Why does Google keep making products for nobody?

It used to be that the major corporations did basic research. The actual R in R&D. Bell Labs and Xerox PARC come to mind.

Today, few if any companies do that. They focus on D and assimilate products and IP wherein the research was done elsewhere and which fits their specific market needs in the near term.

I think that is a loss.

So I am quite encouraged to see a company that is really exploring with basic research: Self-driving cars, medical contact lenses, augmented reality, and lots more that I am sure have not seen the light of day yet.

Once in a while, they will get something right, like ChromeCast. And in the mean time, they provide me kindling for innovative optimism.

It still blows my mind that Google works on exciting, experimental moonshot products that could provide a major benefit in the far future, and all these bloggers can do is whine about the lack of product strategy.

In this case, the contact lenses are not even close to a finished product yet, and Om is protesting a licensing and distribution strategy that doesn't even exist yet.

Also, it's not as if Google doesn't already have several major products that are part of everyones daily life.

Because they aren't products, they are explorations. I don't think they are meant for the average consumer. Not everything has to be consumed.

im ready to buy google glass at $99 ...and id bet a whole bunch more folks are too