The geek elite are gaga over Google Glass. But there areskeptics. While some call it innovative and revolutionary, others say it’sintrusive and disturbing. A natural evolution from Google Goggles, the mostparanoid among us probably see the end game as some Borg-like merger ofhuman and machine.
Figure 1: The evolution of assimilation
(Just for you Star Trek fans: Want a “less evil,” morepromising example? Think of Geordi La Forge’s VISOR.)
Humanoid drones with cybernetically enhanced ocular implants aside, doesGoogle Glass hold any opportunities for us? Maybe, especially for performancesupport. But proceed with caution.
Does Google Glass work as performance support?
Here are four features that might make Google Glass a viableperformance-support technology:
- It’smobile (actually, it’s wearable). It goes anywhere. That’sgreat for having access to information and other resources at the moment ofneed.
- It’snon-burdening; it doesn’t seem to bea hassle to use. This is important; we know that if using a performance supporttool takes more effort than not using it, forget about it.
- It’sconnected to the Internet, enabling real-timeinformation sharing to and from users.
- Overtime, it could be relatively low costto produce in bulk, allowing all who want one to have one.
How might Google Glass be used?
Given the potential of Google Glass as performance support, here are someopportunities where it might be of benefit (you can probably think of manymore):
- Manufacturingoffers lots of potential. Plant workers could get instant access to training,inventories, and production statistics, and they could record problems as theyhappen for review and correction later.
- Healthcare workers could have access to medical information unique to a patientand could send images (for example, at triage sites or in emergency rooms) tospecialists in real time.
- Touristsin an unfamiliar country can use Google Glass to provide information onhistorical sites, restaurants, shopping, local customs, and, of course, instanttranslation services—just look at something and have it translated on the spot.
- Scientistsacross the globe can collaborate in real time, each seeing what the other sees.
- Engineersand repair technicians can solve on-site problems and interface withexperts back at headquarters, resulting in shorter repair times and lowercosts.
- Mentorsand mentees can have a closer relationship even though they work at adistance.
- Constructionworkers of all types can be connected to engineers, architects, clients,and even government agencies, so that construction issues can be resolvedquickly. Apprentices on worksites can have access to information in a varietyof formats that help them master tasks more quickly.
- Lawenforcement professionals can connect the street officer with a host ofinformation on criminals, forensics, and other resources faster than radioingin and waiting for a response.
- The military is probably already working onapplications for Google Glass. The ability of war fighters to have access toimportant information, and the ability of commanders to get information toindividual units, could make a big difference on the battlefield.
Not to mention what Google Glass might do, good or bad, in the training and education realm: public,higher education, and corporate training. I’ll let you think about this one.
A radical transformation or just the Next Big Thing?
As this year’s most buzz-worthy gadget, Google Glass may be agame-changer in wearable computing. But is it a revolution in mobile performance support, or simply an evolution? I’m not sure. Today, manyretail and restaurant chains equip their people with radios to improve customerservice and share information. Tablets and other hand-held devices areincreasingly assisting workers on the go. Is Google Glass really any different?
In one way, perhaps it is. How would we feel if someone was walkingaround our business—or our home or school—with this device on? How would weknow what was being recorded, analyzed, and shared? And of course, there is thewhole corporate and industrial spying thing. If someone were using an iPad orsmartphone to record things, for example, it would be pretty obvious. Not somuch with Google Glass.
As devices get smaller and more powerful, we see vast potential forusing them for learning and performance improvement. But are we also getting tooclose to the button cameras used by spies or the wires used by policeinformants? Time will tell if the benefits outweigh the concerns. I do believe,though, that we will never fully recognize the potential of Google Glass untilwe grapple with the privacy and security issues it presents. Ignoring them willmake our current arguments over Facebook privacy seem laughable.
Of course, all of this begs the question: cool or nerdy (thinkBluetooth headsets)? Would you actually wear one of these things?
Want to learn more about this issue? Check out this great article by Imogen Casebourne at Epic Learning. In many ways, she says itbetter than I do.
