You may have thought Google had totally shelved development of its Google Glass computerised specs, which had been heavily criticised as privacy invading devices.

But, while it’s no longer flogging the specs to the general public, development has been quietly going on behind the scenes, and Google is looking to find more industrial uses for Glass.

And it’s certainly found at least one Down Under: the Royal Australian Navy, no less. The Navy’s Fleet Air Arm has been staging a trial of Google Glass for aviation maintenance.

FAA commander Commodore Chris Smallhorn says Google Glass has enabled a worker to conduct a video conference with supervisors while working – sometimes at height and in difficult-to-access locations – on the Navy’s AS350BA Squirrel helicopter.

The Navy is considering more tests.