Last month it was reported that a mystery barge had been docked in San Francisco Bay, and Google supposedly had something to do with it. Back then it was rumored that the structure on top of the barge would be a “floating marketing center” for Google Glass. Several other theories were thrown around as well, some claimed it might be a floating data center, another report said it would be a highly exclusive showroom for Google Glass with a party deck on the roof. Last week another such barge was found docked in Portland Harbor, and the same was said about it as well. Google finally broke its silence today and confirmed that the barges belong to Mountain View.
We’ve heard the Google Glass store theory again and again, the reason commonly given is that Google seeks to compete with Apple’s popular retail stores, so its going with a completely different and radical idea for a store that will sell its hotly anticipated smart eyeglasses. The company doesn’t say that this project is related to Google Glass in any way, it says that the project is in its early days and it is likely that things might change. In a statement, the company pokes fun at the rumors: “Google Barge … A floating data center? A wild party boat? A barge housing the last remaining dinosaur? Sadly, none of the above,” “Although it’s still early days and things may change, we’re exploring using the barge as an interactive space where people can learn about new technology.” What exactly this “new technology” is going to be is anyone’s guess. This is certainly an ambitious project, one that has already gained a lot of hype in the media. No word on when these barges will start accommodating curious visitors.
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