In late February Google confirmed that Google Project Glass is running ahead of schedule and will be released late 2013. In conjunction with the announcement Google also launched a huge competitionto find testers of the cutting edge device. The competition asks Twitter followers to write in a 140 characters or less, “what would you do with Google Glass?” The winners of the competition will receive a VIP pass to have the opportunity to purchase Google Glass for $1500.
You might be asking yourself, what does Google Glass actually do?
Google Glass is actually a very basic but futuristic concept. Personally, the whole concept of it makes me feel like I am living with the Jetsons and freaked out at the same time. It essentially is a micro display that sits on your face just above your eye line, in a light-weight pair-of-glasses type design that will come in a variety of colors. It contains a camera, microphone, GPS and sound. The entire device is controlled by voice command and all of the results whether directions or a Google Hangout are displayed right in your view all you have to do is glace up.
How can I get a Google Glass?
Google Glass is expected to launch in time for the holiday season and should come to market with a cost of a standard phone - around $750. Obviously, you will be able to buy Google Glass online but there have been rumors of Google opening a brick and mortar store to showcase its cutting edge technologies.
How could Google Glass help in healthcare?
Many of these entrances to the #IfIHadAGlass competition have been focused on healthcare or to help people with special needs.
Some examples include:
- I want to make an app that helps deaf people “see” what others are talking about. [See Tweet]
- I would work to find applications for its use in hospitals and other healthcare settings. [See Tweet]
- I would develop an application to enable the communication with deaf people by showing a live transcription in Google Glass 1/2 [See Tweet]
- I would construct a real-time medical history taking app that would record & upload doctor/patient interactions into an EMR! [See Tweet]
- I would design an app to notify the deaf when a loud noise identifies a hazard outside of their field of view [See Tweet]
We all know that healthcare is usually the last industry to hop on a new technology. Healthcare has many things to worry about such as safety issues and privacy laws that have to be addressed before a new technology can be adopted. It is obvious that wearing Google Glass in a healthcare facility is direct violation with HIPPA. So how can Google Glass be incorporated into healthcare?
Personally, I think it would be pretty amazing to have a nurse using Google Glass in conjunction with facial recognition could display all patient allergies, brief medical history and warn a nurse before a medication error happens. Also, with the high demand of nurses and never enough coverage, Google Glass could also help a nurse do rounds and warn a nurse if a patient is running out of their window for pain medication. If used the right way, Google Glass could revolutionize patient care.
Controversy of Google Glass
Google is also already getting blasted from its critics. Since Google’s main source of income is advertising, many people worry that Google will try and monetize Google Glass with advertising. Imagine getting ads popping up in your eyes?
Other folks also have safety concerns because a head display can be distracting if you are driving or doing something that needs your complete attention. The other opponents are concerned about privacy. If Google Glass can see and hear everything you do – how will this affect free speech? What will Google do with the information it sees and hears?
Just think of the marketing research that can be done for a grocery or department stores. Google could see a huge payday to sell information on how you shop!
