Lenovo debuts its prototype smart glasses

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Google Glass could have a new competitor (or copycat) as Lenovo announces its new wearable ambitions.

Lenovo pulled the wraps off its smart glasses prototype at an event to attract developers and hardware manufacturers. The new wearable looks almost entirely identical to the Google Glass down to the translucent screen that sits on the user's eye level.

The only discernable difference to Lenovo's device is the battery pack has been moved from behind the user's ear to a pack that hangs near the neck. There aren't any further details on hardware but Lenovo has promised to announce more details in October, according to a PC World Report.

Smart glasses, air purifiers, whatever

This new smart glasses prototype was just one of the many devices Lenovo had on show as part of a larger NBD platform. The Chinese NBD translates to "New Bench" in English,and it's Lenovo's new mission to create products beyond PCs and smartphones.

The PC maker wants to use its new platform as a way to work with more hardware partners on an expanded line of products including smart glasses, wireless routers, and air purifiers.

So far NBD has already caught the attention of Luftmed to produce an affordable, smartphone-controllable air purifier. Lenovo also displayed a wireless router co-developed with other Chinese companies that users could control remotely with a mobile device.

Products developed on the NBD Platform will first be primarily sold in China. After that there's still a chance Lenovo will also choose to bring its new devices to other territories just as the company experimented with tablets and SmartTV products that were at first only available in Asia.

• Could NBD help Lenovo-owned Motorola create more wearables beyond the Moto 360?