Analysis of Google Glass - Case Study Example

Google Glass s Submitted by s: Executive summary Glass is an innovative device that consists of a wearable computer, which is designed like a pair of glasses featuring a small digital screen that is projected on a prism placed slightly above the right eye of the user. The device allows the users to surf the internet, receive and send emails, make video calls as well as take photos through various combinations of touches, kinetics, commands and a visual interface that resembles a timeline, while having a touch pad incorporated in its frame. This innovative device is heavily reliant on data connections and provides accessibility to the cloud through WI-FI or the data. The device allows complicated functionalities through “Glassware” which are extra apps that serve particular functions similar to smartphone apps. Introduction Google Glass is basically a computer that has been loaded on to glasses that has the ability to click images, record videos, surf the internet and many other things that a normal computer has the ability to do (Benson and Morgan, 2014, p. 187). Experts in the technology field are already considering the computers that can be worn as being the next big shift in technology in the same manner that the smartphones exhibited a leap from computers (Pedersen, 2013). With various smartphone companies already working hard to develop ways of coming up with technology that can be worn on one way or another, this form of technology may be the genesis of greater things to come in terms of making wearable technology a reality. Strategic implications of implementing this development Currently, developers, reporters as well as consumers are using Glass and stating the kind of experiences they have with a Glass roll out dubbed #ifihadglass initiative, which is a contest for consumers to state through social media how they would use the devices, and get a chance to take part in the Explorer program (Xavier, 2013). Google has adopted a transparent product strategy for Glass that involves revealing the evolution of the device to various interested parties in order to avoid pitfalls associated with previous product launches. The strategy Google has applied is through marketing hardware like software as in regard to software, companies usually release beta versions internally then externally while making adjustments and improvements to the product before being fully released. Before Google Glass, no companies had ever adopted this strategy that is synonymous with software and there was not hardware launch that had the same level of transparency (Rotman Epps, 2013). In the hardware industry, secrecy remains the norm so that companies can avoid cases of their competitors copying the designs. Google has invented its own terms, instead of competing on the same terms as Apple through a level design as well as Google- level marketing which has been successful as the company received numerous responses through its initiative and various blogs amplified the story to make it reach a wider audience. The insights that Google gets from its transparent approach can be useful in shaping the development of the product, its applications as well as marketing of the device. Glass is targeting the deep human need for understanding and sharing experiences with their friends and family, and the product strategists at Google do not have to keep guessing what aspect make the people excited as they already have this knowledge. Among the significant implications associated with the transparent product strategy adopted by Google for Glass is unparalleled success for the launch of a futuristic device. This product’s success and the marketing that precedes it launch will increase the use of Google Plus that is being used by Google as the center of Glass conversations as well as the sharing point for images and videos (Glass-apps.org, 2014). Implications for healthcare For instance, Philips Healthcare has formed a partnership with Accenture Technology Labs and other leading medical practitioners operating in the US in the development of applications for Glass that will assist doctors monitor patients’ vitals and get alerts in the event that there are glitches or other issues regardless of where they are (Accenture.com, 2014). Coupled with location based tracking as well as an integration with health record data warehousing and live feed sign monitors, the application will be critical for health institutions that seek to improve the efficacy of the medical care they provide. Implications for security The benefits if Glass, developed by Google, for the military is their capacity to be worn and carried around with ease and the fact that wearing them is not inhibiting to the user in terms of vision. The device’s heads up display may be utilized for ascertain feasible tactical information like identifying threats as well as monitoring targets (Cammorata, 2013, p. 169). This form of data may be of immediate benefit to a pilot or a soldier and may also be relayed in real-time to other decision makers in the process of fluid combat circumstances. Google’s Glass may be the trend for the days to come in regard to the next-generation military-personnel as well as people working in the homeland field. In the event that the use of this technology is executed in a thorough and strategic manner, then it will be useful to operators in assisting them to become smarter. The applications that work with Google Glass have the ability to improve the already existing skills as well as knowledge but they should not be taken as their replacements. In fact, technology does not have the ability to supersede sound technical abilities, sound judgment and the capacity to communicate efficiently as well as successfully deal with problems (Funston and Wagner, 2013, p. 61). Various law enforcement personnel, soldiers, fire fighters as well as EMS should all continue developing their technical abilities. Implications for business Google’s wearable Glass provides a step forward for businesses as it develops a capacity to interact with appropriate data in real-time and in a collaborative manner that has not been possible previously (Garfinkel, 2014). These glasses will allow business to have meetings without the people involved in the meeting necessarily leaving their locations. Even for the companies with operations in different parts of the world will benefit, as issues like reviewing documents will be made easier. Through using Glass, this can be done instantaneously through looking at the document and at the same time communicating verbally with each other. Glass and other technologies of its nature will also be useful in retrieval of company data such as sales data for particular quarters without the person who needs them having to stand up and go through numerous files to retrieve this information. The possibilities associated with this technology as far as business is concerned are immense and companies would have the ability to deal with mundane tasks faster so that they can move to the more high-order issues, innovations and solutions in a more vibrant manner (Edwards, 2014). The people within the company will therefore have more time to concentrate on strategic issues rather than focusing all the valuable time on tactical aspects. This form of mobile computing overlaps to the associations the business has with its consumers and clients. There is a possibility that the technology will give the consumers shopping experiences that will provide them with real-time information concerning the specifications of specific goods, their reviews as well as comparative prices even without the use of hands. The consumer can also be provided with instructions or manuals for putting together and installing goods they have bought such as shelving units and other forms of installations. Other implications The Glass may also be used in a learning environment that is not medical based as they can be utilized for the provision of integrated digital and individual learning experiences (Pajaron, 2013). The Glass can be used to enhance E-learning through allowing the people engaged in it to conduct intellectual discussions with their peers in a classroom setting. The device may also be valuable in searching for and distributing any supplementary information while making sure not to interrupt the engaging discussions. Various educational institutions are conducting tests on the use of the gadget’s text-to-speech translation aspects to enhance the learning environments of the students with visual impairments. As far as manufacturing is concerned, the technology has already been employed in monitoring large controlled machines (Wall, 2013). For instance, the Indiana Technology and Manufacturing Companies group has tested using to track the status of power, alarms and alters generated by machines along with overriding mechanical feed rates and implementing emergency halts (Albert, 2013). According to the consortium, this could result in considerable enhancements as far as machine operator safety is concerned. Conclusion There are numerous application cases for the smart glasses developed by Google that typically consist of a computer that is linked to a display with an integrated camera, microphone as well as in-built IP connectivity (Rensing, 2014, p. 217). Varied applications such as manufacturing, retailing, healthcare as well as education have been looking towards Google Glass and other equivalent improved reality technologies that are offered by other vendors for their potential costs and effective savings. The smart glasses that comprise improved technology and include cameras that are mounted on the head can enhance the efficiency of technical and engineering operations as well as other operations carried out by different workers in maintenance, field service as well as healthcare (Ali and Frew, 2013, p. 166). In the next few years to come, the field service is likely to be the industry that gains the most benefits from the enhances associated with the smart glasses with the potential of increasing profits by more than one billion dollar every year (Miller, 2014, p. 104). In the field service sectors that are likely to benefit from Google’s wearable technology, industries like oil and gas, as well as construction and those that predominantly rely on a mobile workforce to complete intricate manufacturing processes and repair tasks, will be at the forefront. Bibliography Accenture.com, 2014, Google Glass in the Medical Equipment Technology Industry – Accenture. [online] Available at: http://www.accenture.com/us-en/Pages/service- google-glass-medical-equipment-technology-industry.aspx [Accessed 9 Dec. 2014]. Albert, M. 2013, From Safety Glasses to Data Glasses : Modern Machine Shop. [online] Mmsonline.com. Available at: http://www.mmsonline.com/blog/post/from-safety- glasses-to-data-glasses [Accessed 9 Dec. 2014]. Ali, A. and Frew, A. 2013, Information Communication Technologies and Sustainable Tourism, Taylor and Francis, Hoboken. 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