Google Glass: What are the real opportunities?

Our team often spends time innovating with different technologies. When an email was sent around the office, describing a recent proof of concept (POC) the engineers had created with Google Glass, it got me thinking about why we were not seeing more trials in market. So, I thought I would share some of the different things businesses are experimenting with and some of the opportunities that could really make a difference to the way we live.

It has been more than two years since the launch of Google Glass and there are still few success stories. Why is that? Many critics argue it has not hit the masses due to its clumsy design, cost and poor marketing tactics. It’s also been suggested that the technology is just not quite there yet and needs a lot more development. If we can get over the controversy and the media hype of potential lawsuits, prosecutions and bans, then there is a huge opportunity for businesses to use this technology to improve the way people live and work.

So let me help you imagine the potential for your business with a few examples…

• Aviation services – Virgin Atlantic are testing Google Glass for check-in to identify
  and greet passengers by name and provide the latest updates on their flight information, weather and local events at their destination.

• Medical industry – doctors could use the technology during surgical procedures to consult with other physicians and share critical information  in real-time.

• Construction project managers who used Google Glass to improve safety and efficiency. Watch the video here.

• Police departments are already using them in Dubai to e.g. identify stolen cars.

• Emergency service personnel – providing hands free access to critical information when in the field operating equipment. Watch firefighters in North Carolina here.

• Productivity gains out in the field for equipment maintenance and repair in the manufacturing or energy industries.

• Inventory management - an e-fulfillment company in the Netherlands called Active Ants, during a week-long experiment found that giving Glass and a custom-built stock app to two of these warehouse workers reduced their error rate by 12% — and increased their speed at stock picking by 15%.

• Help the hard for hearing- Google Glass recognise speech and translates to on-screen text for the hard for hearing

• More examples can be seen here such as enhanced gallery experiences, adding more context to your run, instant translations whilst travelling and explaining the mysteries of the cosmos through stargazing.

The real business cost benefits of Google Glass and wearables are obvious. Salesforce also argues that there is a bright future for Google Glass and its use in businesses, such as:

• business travel

• presentations

• efficiency

• security

• remote viewing

• communication

• collaboration

• time management

• information management

• direct sales

If we can harness the potential use within businesses and for the workforce, the opportunities will be endless, and we will not be able to imagine a world where wearables (such as Google Glass) did not exist.

This is an untapped area and we are chomping at the bit to work with businesses to realise the potential, creating amazing experiences for workers that drive real business success. Aren’t you?

If you can’t get enough of what is possible, here some more app ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

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