Google Glass did a nice job of introducing the concept of augmented reality (AR) to eyewear several years ago. And, a host of innovative entrepreneurs and their companies began to pop out of the woodwork. Then, something great happened. Much like the app revolution, which according to Tech Crunch “died several years ago,” innovative companies began to see the applications to their own workplace and come up with AR – “Smart Glasses” of their own. And now, the Smart Glass app revolution has begun.
Take Francesco Giartosio’s GlassUp technology as an example. First of all, it’s a crazy-good-looking pair of glasses. Italian design and Italian technology. When used in an operating room for example, their new technology app can show the surgeon images and data he needs during surgery. This is a far cry from pulling up a youtube video.
This particular software is designed to interface with the surgeon’s hospital, and she can see images of how things are supposed to look, as she is performing the actual surgery! It’s rather like having another experienced doctor in the room with her, advising on what to do. Now, I don’t suspect that this will allow all of us to become sidewalk-surgeons, but it will prove helpful to the medical industry.
Other developers, like Percy Stocker of Ubimax GmbH, Ankur Gopal of Interapt Glass, and Corey Mack, CEO and Head of Design of LAFORGE Optical, and Alberto Torres, CEO at Atheer Labs are all busy bringing new apps to market for these exciting new glasses they are developing as well.
Imagine your glasses at work allowing you to show what you see, to a parts repair company 3000 miles away, as you prepare to install their new gizmo in your current industrial machine. During the install, they can send you the images of what you should do next, as they watch right along with you, as you do it. You can converse with them, and the results would be a tremendous savings in time and money, as it always get installed right, the first time!
Perhaps something is not working correctly? Just put on your smart glasses, and show the tech in Japan what you see and hear. The possibilities are endless for advancing productivity worldwide.
Then apply yet another layer to assess and develop the technical skills of employees in all industries – from insurance adjusters, front line employees, to phlebotomists, surgeons, engineers, oil rig drillers, truck drivers, chefs, and the list continues… Imagine a way for the expert, patient, or customer to assess the work of the technician, engineer, doctor, or other professional on their own glasses. The field of assessment and development will become deepened with real-time coaching, and immediate feedback on specific activities and tasks achieved.
Workers on an oilrig are often servicing pieces of equipment or working at height. Smart Glasses enable them to access relevant information and interact with it, while keeping their hands free for their critical task without compromising safety.
Warehouse professionals now have an optimized and streamlined workflow to guide them through packing lists, pick and pack tasks, and real time inventory management. Augmented reality allows for quick and easy part identification and hands free barcode scanning.
Welcome to the future. The only impediment to applying Moore’s Law of improving this technology and its applications is your imagination, and bravery in placing your investment dollars and teams to take part in achieving excellence in practice.
