Goodbye Glass?

Google recently stopped manufacturing the Explorer version of Glass. Since I have had Glass Explorer for over a year this has prompted people to ask me about the status of Glass. As an active technology professional and educator there is not a simple answer.

The 'official' answer from Google is that Glass has been moved from Google X to a profit oriented division of the company. Basically, Glass is not going away. What was learned from the Glass Explorer program is being developed into a marketable product.

Glass Explorer was a concept rollout, not a product rollout. This was done through Google X, the research arm of Google. Developers and the public began to petition to 'get their hands' on this thing that Google was developing. As Google began to release, first to those invited and then, to the public it was clearly stated that this was an Explorer program. Glass Explorer was truly not ready as a consumer device.

There were and still are some major hurdles facing wearables that Google had to explore.

There was not a wearable operating system in the marketplace when Glass Explorer became available.  It was not clear how users should and would interact with a wearable device.  Google Explorer allowed Android to be investigated as a wearable platform. Cards and the use of voice had to be considered as part of the user interface.

Similar to the introduction of mobile/smartphone devices the type of data and the screen size for wearables is different.  Web pages are no longer a viable option. Even trying to reformat for a specific size would not work. All of the current web pages and services will have to be adjusted to provide for the use of more specific information that is served to meet specific inquiries. The introduction of the use of the Card as the display object allowed for a good display, but the web is not ready to identify and serve small pieces of data from its mass amounts of information.

Although voice inquiry and activation have been around for a couple of decades, it has not been an integral part of any operating system. The use of a keyboard, mouse, or touch to execute commands in a menu/hierarchical system has been the standard format. Voice tools such as Siri or Google Now are only an extension of the menu format. The more specific the question, the better the answer. Glass Explorer attempted to assess voice as an integral part of an operating system. Yet, it was being used in a hierarchical command process that was not user adaptable.

One of the limits of Glass Explorer was the perception of extending current technology without providing anything that was truly new technology.  Walking down the street one day, a man passed me talking on his phone. The man glanced up as he passed, then quickly stated incredulously into the phone, "I just passed someone that was wearing that internet on his face thing." When people asked what I could do with Glass Explorer, they would sum up what I was saying with, "Basically, it is a smartphone on your head." Glass Explorer was about creating a better experiential environment of current technology.

Wearables are hardware that allows for a better experiential environment. Glass Explorer was an opportunity for Google to discover how it can best serve the marketplace and make money with wearables. Google will have to take the time to examine its position in the wearables marketplace and the Internet of Things.

It remains to be understood exactly what will come next. My best guess is that Google will be focusing on its strength, which is software development.

Whatever happens next, I just hope I get another invite......

A Wink and a Smile #throughglass

Google Glass creates happy faces.

There are smiles whenever I wear Google Glass. There are stares and questioning looks, but most people break out into a smile as I pass by.  When the curious ask what I am wearing, the smiles become a happy face.

To demonstrate what Glass can do, I ask, "Can I take your picture?".  As they say "Yes", I wink to take the picture. This action brings on not only a smile, but an entire happy expression.

Hundreds of my photos show people caught in the process of discovering what Glass can do. The video contains some of these happy faces along with the appropriate music. Take a look and... Put On A Happy Face.

How do you say '@'?

What is the English word for @'?

Tweeting from Glass is a quick way to share the moment. No need to pull out a device and type a message. It can all be done with voice commands. However, I have not been successful in mentioning someone using the '@' symbol.

Hashtags work surprisingly well. Simply saying "hashtag frozen" will result in '#frozen'.

However when attempting to use '@', just saying "at discover MATC" results in 'at discover MATC' instead of '@discoverMATC'.

Also, saying "at symbol Sendiks" will result with 'at symbol Sendik's', instead of '@Sendiks'.

Had the same problem when I tried using "at sign Heritage Print" that resulted in "At sign Heritage Print", instead of '@HeritagePrint'.

'@' was created as representation for value or pricing of goods and services. Aside from commercial usage, the symbol was not widely used or understood until the development of Unix and internet in the 1970's. The symbol is widely used today for email address and Twitter.

Twitter uses '@' to 'mention' someone directly in a tweet.  '@' allows users to tag someone in a tweet. This tag allows for the tweet to be found when users are checking who has tagged them. '#' can be used for general words and terms, whereas '@' can be used to get a tweet noticed by those being tagged. It is also used when replying to another person or when wishing to get more people into a conversation.

This is all easy to do if you are using a keyboard, but there does not appear to be any consistently recognized word for '@' that is understood by voice recognition software with Glass or Google for English speakers.

Besides being called the 'at sign' or 'at symbol' in English there are several different ways of referring to '@': 'commercial at', 'atmark','asperand','ampersat'. These are all words that have appeared when I search the web for '@', but none of them have any specific claim to being recognized as '@'.

Interestingly other languages have given '@' different names. The French use arrobase and the Spanish use arroba. The Germans refer to it as the 'monkey tail', Affenschwanz, and the Russians refer to it as the 'dogs tail', sobaka. Since I am not fluent in any of these languages, I am not sure if these words will produce '@'.

The utility of Twitter is limited if one cannot mention others using '@' using voice recognition software. What appears to be the problem is that Google either recognizes a specific word or it attempts to interpret what is said. With '#', it will first spell out the word 'hashtag' after it is stated, but then convert to the symbol when the word has been recognized. Since 'at' is a common English preposition used in many contexts, Glass is not quickly recognizing the word as '@' needed to Tweet.  The solution resides on selecting a specific English word to represent '@'.

So, what word will be best used to say '@' in English and be recognized by Google voice recognition software?

Feed Me Product Information

Nutella is a staple in our household. Something I discovered on a business trip to Germany about thirty years ago. Like PB&J, Nutella is a quick hunger fix that goes great with graham crackers or any type of bread.

The US market for the product has been growing. As a result, major US brands have been attempting to grab some share of this growing market. As such, I am always inclined to buy the new product and test it out.

The other day I discovered that Hershey's came out with a competing product. There was an end cap in the supermarket that featured the Hershey product as well as Nutella. Almost as if it was a dare to compare.

I had not heard or seen of the Hershey product and was curious about why Hershey's thought their product would be better, however, no further information was available.

As I stood there looking at the product, with my Glass on, I realized it would be nice to be able to scan the barcode to obtain more information about the product.

Are packaged goods manufacturers or any consumer goods manufacturers considering using the barcodes to communicate not only with POS systems, but also with consumer devices?

Is anyone going to look at how to develop this with Glass?

Well, this will be one of the apps that I will definitely look into. Anyone want to help?

Glass + Frames = Iwear

It's been little over a week since prescriptions lenses were put in my Frames. A new experience of wearing Glass every day.

It has been a positive experience.

Beyond all the negative press about the appearance of Glass in public places, I have not had any negative response.

People are noticing. Everyone is looking.

As with all abnormalities, everyone acts a little differently when they notice Glass. Many are afraid to stare or ask questions. Some just stop in their tracks and ask if it is Glass or what is it that I am wearing. Others, quickly look away when I look at them, or try to appear that they do not notice.

What I do see are a lot of smiles.    

I smile back.

When I am meetings with co-workers it is fun to briefly demonstrate Glass. Amazing how quickly those that know me are able to forget and accept that I am wearing Glass.  They remember it is 'just Larry' they are dealing with.

This does not mean that people have reservations about me wearing Glass. The other day a colleague stopped me in the hallway to say, "Larry, I know that there are a lot of positive uses for Glass, but it still kind of 'creeps me out' a little."

As my colleague and I stood there and giggled about what was just shared, the president of the college walked by escorting a group of dignitaries. One of the people being escorted stopped in their tracks and asked what I was wearing. After a brief couple minutes of introductions and Glass demonstration all in the escorted group were smiling and enthused as to what they just experienced about Glass. My colleague just turned to me, smiled, and reminded me of the meeting we needed to be at in the next half hour as we parted company. Business as usual.

What I am learning about as I wear Glass, is that you have to provide a positive experience to others.

Polite, professional, and unafraid to positively engage others is the best way to wear Glass.

I wear Glass.

Becoming a Glass Explorer

I really did not expect it.

"Your Chance to Buy Google Glass" was the subject of the email.  The email concluded with "Happy Thanksgiving". The invitation was to join the Google Glass Explorer program. An opportunity to explore a new concept product before it is marketed. I was shocked and honored.

As an educator and developer, the potential of Glass is very exciting. A couple of months before the invite I filled out an online application for obtaining Glass. When I filled out the form, I thought I would just get more information sent to me about the product. Never really thought I would be able to obtain Glass before it was commercially available.

I was not prepared for this.

My life is very full. Beyond my classes, there are already a lot of projects, and now Glass.

My experience with Glass to date has been very positive.  Haven't had any problems to date with social acceptance. People have stopped me to ask what I am wearing. Some recognize that it is Glass.

Wore Glass to the Winter commencement exercises. Was able to take pictures and Tweet live during the ceremony. Before the ceremony all the Deans got a chance to look at them. Several faculty members indicated that they wanted a pair.

My wife invited me to show her third grade class, which was a very uplifting experience that will be in a future blog.

Glass does not fit well with my prescription glasses. Therefore I do not wear them as much as I would like. Just ordered the new Frames for Glass that will allow me to get prescription lens. My commitment is to wear Glass everywhere with the Frames.

My professional life has been filled with looking to the future while understanding the past. Glass does represent an aspect of the future. What Glass will really do or end up looking like will be dependent upon those who explore the technology, discover its uses, and develop its applications.

As an Explorer my interest is as an educator and developer. Exposing people to Glass, understanding the development environment, and discovering how can be used will be my focus. I will use this blog site (dominele.blogspot.com) as well as my professional G+ account (+LarryDomine) to document what I discover.

Follow me in my journey and become a Glass Explorer with me.