Google Glass’ Comeback
First of all, whatever happened to Google Glass? It’s hard to put your finger on a valid reason as to why this product suddenly disappeared from the public eye (could it really have been that people were paranoid by these glasses monitoring them?). So why now are these glasses being given a new breath of life?
Google Glasses began their comeback when companies found they could aid the tedious work being done by hand for workers. Google Glass could show visual instructions to workers by demonstrating to them how the steps of completing the task should go (functioning a step by step visual aid). On top of finding a new use for the device, when Google revisited this project it upgraded many of its features that previously frustrated users such as increasing battery life, the ability to fit the software on other frames such as protective glasses, a strengthened connectivity to a server. So far the main use of Google Glass for many companies has been expediting the learning and working process in factories. A video on Bloom Berg compares the time it takes a technician to finish repairing the wiring on a Skylight with the Google Glasses versus without. With the glasses, he was able to complete the task 34% faster. Could you imagine the added value to a business these glasses could generate by increasing productivity in workers and quality of a product? So what initially was the issue with the Google Glass? And why was this product’s utility not discovered from the beginning?
Google initially failed to market the device’s capabilities correctly— similar to the functions of the Apple Watch and other smart devices, Google Glass was initially advertised to the common man for everyday activities like Fitness. A good point that a Bloom Berg article brought up was that these glasses appeared in the public’s eye to be a violation of individual’s privacy and not something that a pedestrian would want to be caught wearing in public as the glasses would make it seem as if they were filming whatever the user was looking at [1]. There were even several reports of people harassing those who wore the glasses.
Google Glass does have the potential to be applied to do more than help businesses, applications are being developed to help blind and deaf people. Marco Alvarez a current student at Stanford has been working on applications for Google Glass that would print out the subtitles in conversation to help deaf people. For blind people, the Google Glass application would identify the details and hazards of a setting and then inform the person through an audio piece connected to the glasses [2]. But this idea was proposed over 5 years ago and actually when I spoke with Marco (he lived in my freshman dorm) he said that this idea of his was ahead of its time as Google Glass was very expensive (costing around $1,200 at the time) to be brought to fruition. But as of now, it appears that computer scientists have revisited working on these applications which would display information to the user through sourcing technologies and feedback that would allow “visually impaired users [to] identify objects and environments” [3]. It appears Google Glass does have a significant purpose.
Until people assimilate to the idea that not all smart devices are monitoring them and are a threat to their privacy (and when Google Glass becomes as affordable as devices such as the smart watch), Google Glass is just going to have to focus on marketing itself to companies looking to increase the efficiency of workers in their factories. But trust me Google Glass is coming back after its dormancy of several years, be on the lookout for this device hitting the market once again in upcoming years.
References:
1.https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-07-19/google-glass-gets-it-right-the-second-time
2. http://www.excelsior.com.mx/hacker/2014/02/18/944323
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2 comments on “Google Glass’ Comeback”
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Major: MS&E || Focus: Decision Analysis
Thank you for opening up this topic, Foster. Nice blog post.
To add, they have found cases other cool product applications: Google Glass helps medical staff reduce time spent on administrative tasks (such as taking notes) by a 20%. [1]
Wearables showed up high on the Gartner hype curve in 2015 but have disappeared since. Products in the fitness world and apple watch were probably the ones that took it off the list (as their products entered the main-street market.) I am excited to see if Google Glass is going to stick this time around.
[1] http://medcitynews.com/2017/07/google-glass-healthcare/
[2] http://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/whats-new-in-gartners-hype-cycle-for-emerging-technologies-2015/
Very interesting post, Foster. I myself wondered what happened to Google Glass and had just assumed it was discontinued. The social stigma against Glass definitely played a part in stifling the growth of the product, and that is not easy to get around especially to develop a brand new type of product. It is interesting to hear the focus of the application of Glass has shifted to increasing worker productivity. I think this can help society become accustom to this new type of product, and eventually we can see this available to consumers once again, especially since you mention applications such as real-time subtitles for the hearing impaired. I completely agree with your statement that people need to realize smart devices are not necessarily a threat to their privacy, and I do hope we see a resurgence of Glass!