Sun, 24 Nov, 2024

Technology Series: Google Glass

By Asmita Subedi

Google glass represents a new height in technological advancement. It has officially been made available to general public and is immensely anticipated. Google Glass is a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display (OHMD). Google glass has a touchpad located on its side that allows users to control the device by swiping through a timeline-like interface displayed on the screen. Google Glass uses a Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS), field-sequential color and LED illuminated display. It takes voice input through the microphone, magnetometer, while touch senses through ambient light sensor and proximity censor. Glass can notify the user of important notifications and updates, by simply sliding it backward or forward. Google Glass has the ability to take photos and record 720p HD video. The coolest feature is that it simply can be controlled using "voice actions". To activate the Glass, wearers tilt their heads 30° upward or as per preference or simply tap the touchpad, and say "O.K., Glass." And once Glass is activated, wearers can command it to take actions such as "Take a picture", "Record a video", "Send a message to Ram", etc.  We can even command Glass for search results, by issuing commands such as "Google, What date was Google Glass released?'", "How can I reach Deerwalk Institute of Technology?", and many more. In response to the search commands, Glass reads back the search results to the user. The voice response is relayed using bone conduction through an audio transducer that is present beside the ear, thereby rendering the sound almost inaudible to other people. Google glass has been most popular in healthcare applications, journalism, sporting, and mountain climbing. Nowadays, different health related surgeries and diagnoses can be carried out by consulting with experts in distant or remote areas using Google Glass. It even allows students to watch entire surgical procedures through the video captured by the Glass. Earlier, patients had to consult different doctors moving from place to place but now the use of Google Glass has simplified these problems and provided ease to the patients.  Though it can be useful in several applications, it isn’t left untouched by criticism concerning security and privacy threats. People using Glass in public can identify strangers, record people’s activities and broadcast their private conversations. So there are issues still to be sorted out. google glass in DWIT Earlier in October 2013, Michael S. Hu, a surgical resident and postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University gave a presentation on Google Glass to members of DWIT. He shared a video showing patients being operated on in remote villages using Google Glass. The attendees of the event enjoyed the session and got the opportunity to try out the Google Glass and experience the newest technology, before it became available in the market.