Google GLΛSS

Google GLΛSS

Google Glass (styled "GLΛSS") is a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) that is being developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project, with a mission of producing a mass-market ubiquitous computer. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format, that can communicate with the Internet via natural language voice commands.

    While the frames do not currently have lenses fitted to them, Google is considering partnerships with sunglass retailers such as Ray-Ban or Warby Parker, and may also open retail stores to allow customers to try on the device. The Explorer Edition cannot be used by people who wear prescription glasses, but Google has confirmed that Glass will eventually work with frames and lenses that match the wearer's prescription; the glasses will be modular and therefore possibly attachable to normal prescription glasses.

Glass is being developed by Google X, which has worked on other futuristic technologies such as driverless cars. The project was announced on Google+ by Project Glass lead Babak Parviz, an electrical engineer who has also worked on putting displays into contact lenses; Steve Lee, a product manager and "geolocation specialist"; and Sebastian Thrun, who developed Udacity as well as worked on the autonomous car project. Google has patented the design of Project Glass. Thad Starner, an augmented reality expert, is a technical lead/manager on the project.

Development

Although head-worn displays for augmented reality are not a new idea, the project has drawn media attention primarily due to its backing by Google, as well as the prototype design, which is smaller and slimmer than previous designs for head-mounted displays. The first Glass demo resembles a pair of normal eyeglasses where the lens is replaced by a head-up display. Around August 2011, a Glass prototype weighed 8 pounds; the device is now lighter than the average pair of sunglasses. In the future, new designs may allow integration of the display into people's normal eyewear.
     According to several Google employees, the Glass was initially projected to be available to the public for "around the cost of current smartphones" by the end of 2012, but other reports stated that the Glass was not expected to be available for purchase by then.

Hardware

Camera

Google Glass has the ability to take photos and record 720p HD video. While video is recording, the screen stays on.

Touchpad

A touchpad is located on the side of Google Glass, allowing users to control the device by swiping through a timeline-like interface displayed on the screen. Sliding backward shows current events, such as weather, and sliding forward shows past events, such as phone calls, photos, circle updates, etc.

Technical specifications

For the developer Explorer units:

• Android 4.0.4 and higher
• 640×360 display
• 5-megapixel camera, capable of 720p video recording
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth
• 16GB storage (12 GB available)
• Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 SoC 1.2Ghz Dual(ARMv7)
• 682MB RAM 
• 3 axis gyroscope 
• 3 axis accelerometer
• 3 axis magnetometer (compass)
• Ambient light sensing and proximity sensor
• Bone conduction transducer

other

 

Developer	Google
Manufacturer	Foxconn
Type	Augmented reality (AR), Optical head-mounted display (OHMD), Wearable technology, Wearable computer
Release date	Developers (US): February 2013 Consumers: 2014
Introductory price	Explorer version: $1500 USD Consumer Edition: $300-500
Operating system	Android 4.0.4
Power	Lithium Polymer battery (2.1 Wh)
CPU	OMAP 4430 SoC, dual-core
Storage capacity	16 GB Flash total (12 GB of usable memory)
Memory	1GB RAM (682MB available to developers)
Display	Prism projector, 640×360 pixels (equivalent of a 25 in. screen from 8 ft. away)
Sound	Bone conduction transducer
Input	Voice command through microphone, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor
Controller  input	Touchpad, MyGlass phone app
Camera	Photos - 5 MP, videos - 720p
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, micro USB
Weight	50g
Backward compatibility	Any Bluetooth-capable phone; MyGlass companion app requires Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher
Website	google.com/glass

Software

Applications (Glassware)

Google Glass applications (Glassware) are free applications built by third-party developers. Glass also uses many existing Google applications, such as Google Now, Google Maps, Google+, and Gmail.
Third-party applications announced at South by Southwest (SXSW) include Evernote, Skitch, The New York Times, and Path.
On April 15, 2013, Google released the Mirror API, allowing developers to start making apps for Glass. In the terms of service, it is stated that developers may not put ads in their apps or charge fees; a Google representative told The Verge that this might change in the future.
Many developers and companies have built applications for Glass, including news apps, facial recognition, photo manipulation, and sharing to social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter.
On May 16, 2013, Google announced the release of seven new apps, including reminders from Evernote, fashion news from Elle, and news alerts from CNN. Following Googles XE7 Glass Explorer Edition update in early July 2013, evidence of a "Glass Boutique", a store that will allow synchronization to Glass of Glassware and APKs, was noted.
Version XE8 made a debut for Google Glass on August 12, 2013. It brings an integrated video player with playback controls, the ability to post an update to Path, and lets users save notes to Evernote. Several other minute improvements include volume controls, improved voice recognition, and several new Google Now cards.

MyGlass

Google offers a companion Android app called MyGlass, which allows you to configure and manage your device.

Voice activation

Other than the touchpad, Google Glass can be controlled using "voice actions". To activate Glass, wearers tilt their heads 30° upward (which can be altered for preference) or tap the touchpad, and say "O.K., Glass." Once Glass is activated, wearers can say an action, such as "Take a picture", "Record a video", "Hangout with [person/Google+ circle]", "Google 'What year was Wikipedia founded?'", "Give me directions to the Eiffel Tower", and "Send a message to John (many of these commands can be seen in a product video released in February 2013). For search results that are read back to the user, the voice response is relayed using bone conduction through a transducer that sits beside the ear, thereby rendering the sound almost inaudible to other people.

Games

GlassBattle developed by BrickSimple and Escape developed by Advanced Mobile Applications (AMA Studios) are two Glass games that were released prior to the official release of the product. GlassBattle, which is adapted from the board game Battleship, was the first of the two to be publicized.

Safety concerns

Concerns have also been raised in regards to operating motor vehicles while wearing the device. West Virginia state representative Gary G. Howell has introduced an amendment to the state's law against texting while driving that would include bans against "using a wearable computer with head mounted display." In an interview, Howell stated, "The primary thing is a safety concern, it (the glass headset) could project text or video into your field of vision. I think there's a lot of potential for distraction."

Terms of service/policy

Under the Google Glass terms of service for the Glass Explorer pre-public release program, it specifically states, "you may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person. If you resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person without Google's authorization, Google reserves the right to deactivate the device, and neither you nor the unauthorized person using the device will be entitled to any refund, product support, or product warranty." Wired commented on this policy of a company claiming ownership of its product after it had been sold, saying: "Welcome to the New World, one in which companies are retaining control of their products even after consumers purchase them. Others pointed out that Glass was not for public sale at all, but rather in private testing for selected developers, and that not allowing developers in a closed beta to sell to the public is not the same as banning consumers from reselling a publicly released device.

Research

In July 2013, Lucien Engelen commenced research on the usability and impact of Google Glass in healthcare. As of August 2013, Engelen, who is based at Singularity University and in Europe at Radboud University Medical Center, is the first healthcare professional in Europe to participate in the Glass Explorer program. His research on Google Glass (starting August 9, 2013) was conducted in operating rooms, ambulances, a trauma helicopter, general practice, and home care as well as the use in public transportation for visually or physically impaired. Research contained making pictures, videos streaming to other locations dictating operative log, having students watch the procedures and tele-consultation through Hangout. Engelen documented his findings in blogs, videos, pictures, on Twitter, and on Google+. and is still ongoing.
The key findings of his research were:

1. The quality of pictures and video are usable for healthcare education, reference, and remote consultation.The camera needs to be tilted to different angle for most of the operative procedures
2. Tele-consultation is possible—depending on the available bandwidth—during operative procedures.
3. A stabilizer should be added to the video function to prevent choppy transmission when a surgeon looks to screens or colleagues.
4. Battery life can be easily extended with the use of an external battery.
5. Controlling the device and/or programs from another device is needed for some features because of sterile environment.
6. Text-to-speech ("Take a Note" to Evernote) exhibited a correction rate of 60 percent, without the addition of a medical thesaurus.
7. A protocol or checklist displayed on the screen of Glass can be helpful during procedures.

The first time that the device was used in a U.S. surgery occurred in August 2013 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Surgeon Dr. Christopher Kaeding used Google Glass to consult with a colleague in a distant part of Columbus, the state's capital city. A group of students at The Ohio State University College of Medicine also watched the surgery on their laptop computers. Kaeding stated following the procedure, "To be honest, once we got into the surgery, I often forgot the device was there. It just seemed very intuitive and fit seamlessly.