If you think Google Glass is merely a vanity product with no meaningful application, perhaps it is time to think again. CBR presents five real-life examples of Google Glass in action, starting with the most recently announced initiative.
1. Virgin Atlantic
The airline has started a six-week trial at Heathrow airport in efforts to speed up check-ins for business class passengers and customer service.
Virgin Atlantic staff will be wearing Google Glass and other wearable technology starting from today to update passengers on the latest flight information, weather and local events at their destination and translate foreign languages. Virgin Atlantic, which is working with air transport specialists SITA, said the technology could also be used to tell airline staff their passengers’ dietary and refreshments requirements.
2. Fire Fighter App
A firefighter and engineer from the Rocky Mount Fire Department in North California is working on a Google Glass app that would give firefighters access to real-time data they would need in emergency situations.
Patrick Jackson said the goal of the app is to help firefighters to work faster and safer with the hope of saving more lives. The app would provide maps and building floor plans for when firefighters need to rescue people in unfamiliar buildings. It could also show them rescue procedures for vehicle-related accidents. A version of the app will be ready for use in the next six months, according to Jackson.
3. NameTag
An app is being developed by a company called FacialNetwork that claims to take a photo of a stranger, and then find out who they are.
The app uses facial recognition software to send photographs wirelessly to a server, which compares it to millions of records, returning the photo back with personal details and other photos. The controversial app can scan 450,000 entries on the National Sex Offender Registry and other criminal databases.
FacialNetwork said it is also creating software to allow the scanning of profile photos from dating sites such as Match.com and other social networking sites. Nametag is currently available on Glass for Beta testers and the makers hope it can be officially available to Google Glass users as well.
4. Surgery
Surgeons are seeing the potential with Google Glass. A US-based orthopaedic surgeon is the third to ever have led a team of doctors to perform and broadcast live a foot surgery using Google Glass.
Dr Selene G. Parekh operated during a three day annual Indo-US conference in January 2014 to share the information with other doctors. He told CBR he believes Google Glass will "allow surgeons to collaborate, educate, and teach more easily. I think it will improve outcomes and patient success."
Using Google Glass during operations allows the surgeon to look at an x-ray or MRI without moving away from the patient. It also allows the surgeon to communicate with staff and the patient’s friends and family during an operation.
5. Sex with Google Glass
Last but perhaps not least, this app lets couple see the carnal act from their partner’s perspective when both of users wear the technology.
The Sex with Google Glass app is connected to smart lamps and other smart devices, allowing users to dim the lights, ask the for certain songs to be played or make recordings.
The wearable technology app was developed by Lebanese product design student Sherif Maktabi at Central St Martins during the Wearable Hackathon even in London in November 2013.
The search engine company has previously taken a firm stance on apps that feature explicit content, banning a pornographic app by developers MiKandi last year.
