Google is getting a lot of attention for its Glass wearable computer, but it’s not the only company developing tech-laden eyewear – and the makers of the Canadian cousin expect their version to hit the market first.

Vancouver-based Recon Instruments’ wearable computing device is being described as a cousin to Google Glass, but with a sporty focus.

And that comparison sits just fine with the creators of Jet -- a pair of 'smart glasses' designed by Recon and intended for athletes who want to track their performance in real time, on the fly, with nothing more than a quick downward glance at the inside of their lens.

"The ultimate goal is to bring information as close to your attention as possible," said Dan Eisenhardt, CEO of Recon Instruments, in a recent interview with CTV British Columbia.

Similar to Google Glass, Jet makes use of a microcomputer roughly as powerful as a smart phone, and features a tiny full-colour screen to display information from its built-in GPS, HD video camera, microphone and speakers.

A version of the glasses designed for endurance athletes can track performance metrics such as speed/pace, distance, duration and heart rate. And by connecting the glasses to a smart phone, text messages can be read and calls answered, even while running up a steep hill or screaming down the road on an afternoon ride.

"It's really like a smart device for your eyes," Eisenhardt said. "We have been coined already as the 'sporting cousins’ of glass.'"

And while the data display is easily viewed, it doesn't impede the user's vision, said Tom Fowler, chief marketing officer for the company.

"After about 10 minutes of riding with the product, the display just completely disappears," he said. "Until you glance down and you see all the data right there."

Recon has been on the cutting edge of the "heads-up display" market since 2010, when the company launched what they describe as the world's first wearable computer -- a microcomputer mounted on ski goggles that allowed users to track their friends' positions, among other features.

Now, with Jet, they've partnered with Oakley and achieved compatibility with iPhone -- the product will even be sold in Apple stores across North America.

The first models of Jet are expected to be available in December, just in time for Christmas. The product is available for pre-order at a cost of about $500.

Google has not yet set a release date for Glass.