Glass has stopped selling Glass although the firm says the concept is not dead and that it will launch new versions of smart glasses. The announcement means that the explorer programme, which gave software developers the chance to buy Glass for $1,500, will close. The programme was launched in the United States in 2013.

Initially, the explorer program was expected to be followed reasonably quickly by a full consumer launch.

Google said the Glass team will move out of the Google X division which engages in "blue sky" research, and become a separate undertaking, under its current manager Ivy Ross. She and the Glass team will report to Tony Fadell, the chief executive of the home automation business Nest, acquired by Google a year ago.

Google says it is committed to working on the future of the product, but gave no timescale for the launch of any new version.

Early users of Glass were very excited about the product, which enabled them get information in a small screen above their right eye, take photos and videos, and get directions. But soon ,amy users got tired of Glass, complaining that it was not evolving in the ways that had been promised. There were also concerns about privacy and safety.