Wednesday, November 20, 2013

For Class: Google Glass?

Google Glass is essentially a device created by Google that allows you do various smart phone/tablet/android-related tasks hands-free and, thanks to the strategically created and placed mini-screen, you can view them all on the upper right side of your line of sight, clear and simple but enough space so it isn't too distracting or obtrusive. No need to look down and into your phone, no need to dig through pockets or flip screens, this device lets you take pictures and videos, check your texts, e-mail, web search, Google maps, notes, review videos and such through voice command and/or motion gestures. (or clicks, for the camera.).
According to one of the developers of Google Glass, Sergey Brin, the gadget was supposed to solve the problem of people getting distracted or disconnected from social interaction: due to having to busy oneself with the aforementioned digging through pockets or having to keep ones hands busy texting or searching or restricting one's line of sight to his or her gadget

Socially, as mentioned early, it's supposed to help the user keep in touch with his or her technology without having to take the time distract themselves with having to break eye-contact and the like. All that with the usual smart-device ability to stay connected to your friends and loved ones via social media (video calls and internet calls) and stay connected with the world via internet media. The device, according to the review by Engadget, (refer to the link below if you want to check out their review) is a little more of a luxury add-on than an actual smart device. There are still a lot of applications and tasks that the gadget cannot do like youtube, full/ heavy websearch, limited apps (for now) as well as the low battery etc. etc. and connectivity problems between your phone/other devices and the product. Also, the perks of the device, excluding the camera (from what I understand currently) only comes with the help of a. wifi, b. apps created for certain areas. For example, the google maps app, vehicular transportation- similar to siri problems all over the world, certain apps or “perks” are limited to the area. Not all areas are immediately wifi-ready or come with affordable 24/7 portable wifi/3g (e.g. 3rd-world countries like my own: the Philippines).  That said, as of now, I don’t think google glass is going to become a “common gadget” anytime soon. The price is a little too high and unless you really want the few perks that it currently offers (even if it develops here and there a few years later). There are only so many people who would be willing to spend $1500 on it. Buyers are more likely to either wait for the cheaper, upgraded versions or the cheaper counterparts. However, other variations of the gadget are going to pop up for sure. Different companies are already struggling to come up and patent their own version (Intel has already announced their investment, check link below. Sony, Microsoft, Apple and rumors of Samsung joining in as well). Prices, features, outsourcing- it’s only a matter of time till cheaper versions come out- but will it be worth it? Apple and Samsung recently came out with their “smart watches”, and while it’s a great tool to supplement their smart devices (similar to google glass), it hasn’t exactly boomed the way big technological “future norms” are supposed to. Personally, while it’ll be cool to have around, I don’t think it’s going to become a big “must-have” any time soon.

With the development of new technology there are a few things that will pop up. New development teams both for the original product and the different variations. Other than that, I can’t see more jobs and the like popping up just because of the gadget.

If, by some reason this gadget becomes a norm or a common “must-have gadget”, there would be a few things to consider. In the ted talk by one of the developers Sergey Brin (ted talk link below), the main concern of the “gadget’s distraction” was brought up. Though the gadget was made to keep people from detaching from the real world, it still does the same thing (distracting notifications etc). However, I also think that the gadget will further develop the “document my life”-type generation since the act/process of documentation becomes even easier, and more “interesting” given the gadget’s ability to produce documented media in an even more realistic first person point of view.

Currently, google has released a few of the products for testing, different developers and volunteers and they (google) plan to let people "test it" subject to the product availability. (if you're from the US, you can sign up here http://www.google.com/glass/start/how-to-get-one/ ). Still no word on where all of that hardware and genius technology is coming from but rumor has it, google is still currently planning on manufacturing somewhere in Santa Clara. 



(Ted Talk: Google Glass dev) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rie-hPVJ7Sw
(manufacturing company) http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/22/4544882/google-glass-production-himax-investment
(intel invests on their own version) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/hardware/Intel-invests-in-Google-Glass-rival/articleshow/23214854.cms
Smartwatch (http://gadgets.ndtv.com/others/news/samsung-apple-sony-or-google-who-has-vision-to-crack-the-smart-watch-413920)
Samsung google glass? (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/gear-glass-samsungs-answer-to-google-glass-reportedly-in-the-works/427145-11.html)


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