Google Glass is a brand of smart glasses developed and sold by Google. It was developed by Google X with a mission to produce a ubiquitous computer. The device displays information to the wearer using a head-up display and allows communication with the Internet via natural language voice commands.
The first prototype of Google Glass was made available to qualified individuals, called “Glass Explorers,” in the US for $1,500 in April 2013. However, it received criticism due to privacy concerns and was eventually discontinued in January 2015. Since then, two Enterprise Editions have been released, which focus on professional use in industries such as factories, warehouses, and hospitals.
Google Glass features a touchpad located on the side of the device for controlling it by swiping through a timeline-like interface displayed on the screen. It also has a camera that can take 5 MP photos and record 720p HD video (with an improved 8MP 80° FOV camera in Glass Enterprise Edition 2). The display uses a liquid crystal on silicon system with field-sequential color and LED illumination.
Google Glass applications are free and include news apps, facial recognition, exercise programs, photo manipulation tools, translation services, and social networking integration. The Mirror API allows developers to create apps for Google Glass.
Google Glass can be controlled using just voice actions after activating it by tilting your head upward or tapping the touchpad and saying “O.K., Glass.” Once activated, users can give voice commands such as “Take a picture,” “Record a video,” or “Give me directions to the Eiffel Tower.” Voice responses are relayed using bone conduction through a transducer beside the ear.
In medicine, Google Glass has been used to improve hospital workflows by allowing physicians to live-stream patient visits to remote scribes who transcribe the interaction while doctors focus on patients. It has also been tested for retinal imaging (“Glass Fundoscopy”) and assisting in interventional radiology procedures. Researchers have explored its potential applications in operating rooms, ambulances, trauma helicopters, general practice settings, home care situations, and public transportation for visually or physically impaired individuals.