GOOGLE HAD LONG been linked with smartwatches and wearable tech, thanks to its development of Glass, but now it’s officially entered the wearable tech market with Android Wear.

As the name suggests, Android Wear brings Google’s smartphone OS to wearable devices, starting off with smartwatches.

The interface and style of Android Wear will be familiar to those who use Google Now, showing you information that’s both context sensitive (weather, journey times, cinema times) and notifications from messages and email.

On top of that, the OS is controlled through swipe gestures and voice controls, and also has music and fitness apps designed for watches.

(Video: GoogleMobile/YouTube)

Google says it’s working with a number of companies such as manufacturers, chip makers and fashion brands, to bring smartwatches powered by Android Wear later this year.

Developers will be able to download a preview version so they can tailor their apps notifications for the new service.

(Video: Android Developers/YouTube)

The first smartwatches to be powered by Android Wear will from LG and  Motorola, the mobile company Google recently sold to Lenovo for $2.91 billion.

Neither company has revealed any concrete information about the Moto 360 or the LG G watch, apart from the functionality Google has already revealed, but both devices are expected to arrive in the US in the summer.

(Video: motorola/YouTube)

While the idea of smartwatches are growing, the devices have a number of barriers to overcome before they hit the mainstream.

The biggest one would be battery life tends to be poor for most smartwatches, only lasting  a day or two before you need to charge again, and Android Wear smartwatches could face the same problems too.

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