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Google Looking for "Creative Individuals" For Glass Developer Program
rtoz writes with a quick bite from rtoz.org about Google's latest news about Project Glass: "Google has released video preview of its forthcoming Google Glass wearable headset, providing a fresh, and more realistic look at the device's user interface. Based on the demo, Google Glass will allow users to receive and execute onscreen directions, send voice-controlled messages, and search the web through speech. The UI also includes voice-controlled photos, and suggests that the device will offer onscreen translation support. And, it looks like the Google Glass will be water-resistant. Google has previously said it is aiming to launch Glass by early 2014, though it is already pushing out developer editions priced at $1,500."
They're looking for developers, but only if you're hip enough.
...that if I am deemed "hip enough" - to be "accepted" - I still have to pay $1500, and drive to New York to get the damn thing. But please don't make me have to "follow you" on Google-Plus!!!
They are using the allure of scarcity. Remember when people went crazy over GMail or Google + invites?
This taps into a basic human driver. Scarcity makes people feel special, and working hard to get something makes people perceive the value is greater.
Of course, Google needs developers to embrace Google Glass to be successful. The more the better. But by making it exclusive people will value it more. Such are the problems of a digital society, where almost all that is left is artificial scarcity.
...if an obnoxious guy wearing a Bluetooth headset is referred to as a 'douchebag', what do you moniker an obnoxious guy wearing a Glass headset?
This could get interesting when coupled with some powerful image recognition. Say, for example, you want to repair something on your car. Load up the repair manual, and let the overlay show you step by step what to do, e.g. a certain screw gets highlighted right were it is and the popup text tells you to now fasten this screw to this-and-that torque.
Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.
I'd walk into a wall.
Seriously, what about those of us who already have glasses? I guess I'm not hip enough. :(
..don't panic
This looks like a product targeting soldiers to provide them some reality+ in the lens (threats, escape routes, blueprints, language translator, FoF id, remote video....). Probably they already have some of them....I would consider it interesting if there is a medical use to it. (help to people with blind issues).
People wear watches costing much more. Many women have purses that are that expensive or a significant fraction there of. I think you need to move out of the hood.
cheaper to buy a new car instead of the glasses and the manual and the parts. or just pay someone to fix it
What niche does it fill
If you went back in time to the 1970s and described a smartphone to someone, that's exactly what they'd say. Some products create their own niche.
Imagine this: a construction worker puts on a visor. He taps a button, and the new building's frame appears. Another button, and the plumbing system appears. Another button, and the Red Sox game appears in the upper left corner of his field of view. Another button, and a busty woman appears and asks to borrow his hammer. Worker productivity plummets, and software companies get rich.
Looks like everyone is seeing this as the Glass is half-empty instead of half-full. Am I right guys? Eh? Eh? ... Huh, just got an email from google, something about non-hip comments...
The G
This could get interesting when coupled with some powerful image recognition. Say, for example, you want to repair something on your car. Load up the repair manual, and let the overlay show you step by step what to do, e.g. a certain screw gets highlighted right were it is and the popup text tells you to now fasten this screw to this-and-that torque.
Wait, are you implying that augmented reality glasses are a good idea for augmented reality applications?
Sig? Heil
What you describe wouldn't really work; it doesn't overlay your whole field of vision. It could, however, project the manual where you can look at it easily just by looking up and to the right, and you could use voice commands to navigate to what you need to see.
I've been watching the application stream on Google+ and so far the most interesting applications are all about what can be done with a voice-controlled camera on your head. So, like a GoPro, but smaller, lighter and more hands-free -- as well as with an Internet connection and the ability to interact with apps and people.
One I saw was from a surgeon who'd like to use it to record and share operations, interact with peers to get suggestions, etc. Think about doing a Hangout On-Air with an expert in the particular surgery you're doing, able to talk and get answers during the surgery, with the remote expert able to see exactly what you're doing, then to have it all recorded for future use. There are a lot of people with similar ideas in different fields.
Another was from a search and rescue guy, who wants to outfit his whole team with them, to provide real-time, hands-free communications and maps, with all of the rescuers plotted, and to be able to do audio or video communications between team members, and to share video streams.
Another was from a filmmaker who wants to explore using Glass to make a full-length feature film.
I think these sorts of innovative uses are what Google is looking for.
Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
Think human augmentation not mere augmented reality.
Once you have a wearable computer+sensors+comms that are sufficiently advanced you can have them do the following:
0) Virtual telepathy+telekinesis
1) Continuous video+audio recording in high res of past X minutes, and low res for longer periods. This way you don't have to miss stuff - you can tell the computer to switch to high res till further notice (the past X minutes would already be in high res) and then save it. Eidetic memory for the masses!
2) Continuous background image recognition (look for faces or objects)
3) Continuous background audio recognition (voice, music ).
4) GPS+ map + compass direction feedback.
5) Work with "area/location computers" (so that you can more easily control/access location specific stuff - lights, jukebox, climate control, menus, ordering systems).
6) Many more stuff (super PDA features e.g. context sensitive reminders/prompts time+location+history+surroundings+etc ) - see below too.
If brain computer interfaces become safe, reliable and good, you could use stuff like "thought macros". For example a fancy computer program would let me link certain thought patterns with certain actions or objects.
That way I can do: [start command][recall object]{some thought pattern}[go][end]. And then the computer recalls the relevant object which could be a video, photo, sound, file or whatever.
I can also do [start command][recall previous][go][send to]{thought pattern of friend}[go][end]. Or get the computer to help calculate stuff, search databases. Or even do "rain man" counting (you could get the computer to highlight/mark the objects it is counting so that you can countercheck that it is counting correctly - humans are OK at detecting if something should be highlighted by the computer and isn't - counting large numbers of stuff fast isn't our forte ).
Thought patterns in square brackets are commands. Though patterns in curly brackets are various thought patterns you choose to associate with a person or item.
Put it all together you'd have humans with eidetic memory, telepathy, telekinesis, and other super/magical powers. The technology is already mostly there - we've already got some sort of telepathy with mobile phones etc. Heck in the 1990s I was hoping wearable computing would take off and we'd already have this "magic" by now.
The main hindrance to progress I see would be copyright and patent law. You'd be crippled by DRM and you wouldn't be able to walk into a cinema without all that stuff being forced off.
Ideas are easy. Implementation is the hard part. That's why patents suck in general ;). Go ahead implement this. All these patent trolls, suits and lawsuits are slowing down progress. Someone smart can probably work out the details and improve on the idea - I hope someone does soon - I'm getting old and tired waiting for the future to arrive...
p.s. Military edition might have gun muzzle detection, military object identification (with data), camouflage countermeasures, automatic "crack-thump" sniper location, UWB radar+comms, range gated vision (the latter two can give away your position to enemies that are suitably equipped[1]).
[1] That said, electronic devices emit signals that can be detected if you have enough fancy stuff.
Example: you walk into a hospital and glance at the directory, the glasses automatically spot the QR barcode in the bottom corner and follow the link it gives to a downloadable copy of the map. You say "Glasses, find room 203", the map hovers over your field of view along with your current location. The glasses ask if you want navigation so you say yes, and a line appears on the floor directing you were to go. As you walk, the glasses build up a 3d model of the hospital and use it to keep the map up to date for others.
Could you do something similar with a smartphone? Probably, but the result wouldn't be the same.