Google has announced (#93) a new feature called “Hangouts On Air” for Google+. It allows you to wear an enormous hat on the internet broadcast your hangout to a larger audience as well as record it.

Google+ users already use Hangouts to create intimate onscreen experiences—with family members, prayer groups, even people with certain medical conditions. But sometimes you want to speak to a large audience, or alternatively, view as a spectator. In these cases a public broadcast is what’s needed, so today we’re introducing Hangouts On Air.

The setup is simple enough: just start a normal hangout, and you’ll have the option to broadcast and record your session. Once you’re “On Air,” up to nine others can join your hangout (as usual), and anyone can watch your live broadcast

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We’re starting with a limited number of broadcasters, but any member of the Google+ community can tune in. In fact: we’ll be hosting our very first On Air hangout with will.i.am on Wednesday night, September 21. For more information visit will.i.am’s or my profile on Google+.

This is great news!

We (Limor Fried and Adafruit) are looking for a contact at Google that can flip the switch on our account so we can do our show with the “On Air” feature.