Following the appearance of Facebook and Twitter apps for the hardware on the Google Play Store, Sony has confirmed the release of a developer version of its SmartEyeglass, which will be available in the UK, US, Germany and Japan from 10 March.

The smart glasses, which will cost €670 (£493), offer many of the same functions as the recently terminated Google Glass, able to show text, images and information on a small built-in screen, superimposed over the real view.

The hologram optics technology in the lens achieves high transparency of 85 per cent at a thickness of just 3.0mm, while the monochrome display ensures high luminance while keeping energy consumption low. The SmartEyeglass sensors include a CMOS image sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, brightness sensor and mic.

While Googles eyewear placed most of its electronics in a box on the side of the frame, Sonys smart glasses are larger and contain the hardware within a wraparound frame, making them bulkier, but closer to a traditional pair of glasses.

Along with the SmartEyeglass itself, developers will also be able to access an updated version of the SDK to create software for the device, with the hope that it will develop an app ecosystem that rivals and possibly even surpasses the Google Glass.