Google has announced some major plans for its upcoming Project Glass used with Google's smart glasses. Google had made its smart glasses available for purchase by developers for $1500. The search giant has also sent out invitations to those customers inviting them to an "early look at Glass" and "two full days of hacking on the upcoming Google Mirror API" in San Francisco and NYC.

The hack-athon will help developers get early access to Google's platform so they will be able to build apps for Porject Glass.

Project Glass is Google's augmented reality HMD (head mounted display) which is used through Google's smart glasses. It displays information in an Android-like interface. The smartphone moves to glasses in this iteration. You'll be able to run apps, surf the Web, and more with the smart glasses. In November 2012, Time Magazine recognized it as one of the best inventions of 2012.

Google seems like it's accelerating the launch of Project Glass since it knows it won't be the only player in town for long. Google is betting on people wearing strange looking glasses because they feel the need to be connected at all times. The glasses are expected to launch sometime next year and many expect that when the smart glasses ship they will be around the same price of current smartphones.

Google is holding a hack-a-thon and this is what it sent out to the developers:

"Join us for an early look at Glass and two full days of hacking on the upcoming Google Mirror API in San Francisco or New York. These hackathons are just for developers in the Explorer program and we're calling them the Glass Foundry. It's the first opportunity for a group of developers to get together and develop for Glass.

We'll begin the first day with an introduction to Glass. You'l have a device to use while on-site. Next we'll take a look at the Mirror API, which gives you the ability to exchange data and interact with the user over REST. We'll then dive into development with Google engineers on site to help you at any point. At the end of the second day we'll have a lively round of demos with some special guest judges.

If you'd like to attend this first Glass Foundry, please choose and register by Friday, January 18th at 4pm PT. There is limited space. If you are accepted, you will receive a confirmation letter with additional details and required terms after registration closes. Please don't make any travel arrangements until your attendance is confirmed.

Glass Foundry San Francisco
January 28th & 29th at Google SF
Glass Foundry New York
February 1st & 2nd at Google NYC