Google Launches New $999 Glass AR Headset for Enterprise Customers

[Abazigal]

People can bash this all day long, but that's a shallow perspective. What they fail to realize is how this type of development moves the needle forward. Technology improves, lessons are learned, and one day, the world will be a better place as a result. So, bash all you want, but let's be thankful that Google is "wasting their time on this". 10 years from now, you won't see it that way.

Except that in this case, the problem isn’t so much the technology but that nobody trusts google with this sort of stuff.

Think back to why the Apple Watch succeeded. How aggressively Apple marketed their product, even releasing additional watch bands to make users want to wear it (not merely tolerate one for the tech benefits).

This is something that can only be achieved by a company who gets both tech and design. Google gets the tech but not the design. Which is why this product will fail.

And this is a problem no amount of tech can solve.

Third, I can guarantee that if Apple released a similar product, it would be subject to very strict criticism. That’s the double standards which has me scratching my head. A product can advance a certain category, and be equally flawed and be subject to its share of criticism. Yet when companies like Samsung and google release something like this, the reception is a collective shrug and a dismissive “at least they are trying to innovate”.

 

[hvfsl]

Surgeon are already doing surgery via robots and some remote. This solves nothing, it’s an impedance to ones attention, just like people looking at their cell phones and walking and crossing on the streets without looking.

That depends on how you use them exactly, AR glasses can be a lot less distracting than glancing down at your phone all the time.

For example, cycling would benefit from AR glasses. At moment if I am going somewhere new, I have to keep glancing down at my phone (on my handlebars) to work out where I am (a bigger problem if I am mountain biking as paths often aren't marked). But with AR glasses, I can just enjoy the scenery and have that info always visible.

 

[Abazigal]

i honestly hope if they are working on one, it will be just for gaming. people look so incredibly stupid walking around wearing those...

My guess is that Apple will find a way to make their AR glasses look like a normal pair of glasses that make users want to be seen with.

I will say that Apple is uniquely positioned to succeed in wearables, moreso than any other company out there. They control both the hardware and the software, have aggregated the best customers, and have the marketing chops to promote what is essentially a fashion statement first and foremost.

 

[alexandr]

My guess is that Apple will find a way to make their AR glasses look like a normal pair of glasses that make users want to be seen with.

I will say that Apple is uniquely positioned to succeed in wearables, moreso than any other company out there. They control both the hardware and the software, have aggregated the best customers, and have the marketing chops to promote what is essentially a fashion statement first and foremost.

i completely agree. as much hate as the airpods are getting from android lovers, i see more(by far) people sporting them than any other wireless earphones. same goes for the watch.

 

[DoctorTech]

People can bash this all day long, but that's a shallow perspective. What they fail to realize is how this type of development moves the needle forward. Technology improves, lessons are learned, and one day, the world will be a better place as a result. So, bash all you want, but let's be thankful that Google is "wasting their time on this". 10 years from now, you won't see it that way.

I agree in principle with your post. This generation of hardware and software is a stepping stone to more useful hardware and software in the future. I HOPE the world will be a better place as a result and that Google doesn't help spread the Chinese "social credit score" system to the US. These glasses remind me a lot of the glasses used in the Black Mirror episode "Nose Dive".

 

[Xenomorph]

I still charge up my Google Glass 1 every so often. I'm still waiting for all the cool apps to come out for it...

 

[nitramluap]

While I don't think this has a place for normal humans in society, I think this could be very useful in enterprise and I can think of several examples, but just two:

- Automotive/Machinery - mechanics could pop them on and see an overlay of vehicle components, how to access them, assemble/disassemble and order replacement parts. Basically a real-time manual

- Surgery - Currently we use sophisticated stereoscopic sensors, combined with CT or MRI scan images to simulate the position of a surgical tool on a screen (some neuro- & orthopaedic- surgery) - but its a 3-view set of images, all in 2D. With this, a 3D model of the patient can be shown overlain on the real patient... in 3D.

And in these industries, what the device looks like is totally irrelevant.

 

[msama]

This is really cool. I don't know if the glasses will ever take off, but introducing AR in a useful way is something I hope to see in my lifetime. Keep swinging that bat!

 

[Abazigal]

While I don't think this has a place for normal humans in society, I think this could be very useful in enterprise and I can think of several examples, but just two:

- Automotive/Machinery - mechanics could pop them on and see an overlay of vehicle components, how to access them, assemble/disassemble and order replacement parts. Basically a real-time manual

- Surgery - Currently we use sophisticated stereoscopic sensors, combined with CT or MRI scan images to simulate the position of a surgical tool on a screen (some neuro- & orthopaedic- surgery) - but its a 3-view set of images, all in 2D. With this, a 3D model of the patient can be shown overlain on the real patient... in 3D.

And in these industries, what the device looks like is totally irrelevant.

I think that’s the reality facing google and Microsoft. That they are releasing their product for enterprise is tacit admission that said product has no chance of succeeding in the mass consumer market. Microsoft has lost mobile, while google is just too creepy.

Apple has the design chops and the brand power necessary to make this product category succeed in the mass market.

I expect this disparity to become even more prominent when Apple does eventually release their own AR glasses.

 

[5hugknight]

People can bash this all day long, but that's a shallow perspective. What they fail to realize is how this type of development moves the needle forward. Technology improves, lessons are learned, and one day, the world will be a better place as a result. So, bash all you want, but let's be thankful that Google is "wasting their time on this". 10 years from now, you won't see it that way.

Every privacy whistle-blower begs to differ.

Do not fear power, but fear who wields it.

 

[code-m]

That depends on how you use them exactly, AR glasses can be a lot less distracting than glancing down at your phone all the time.

For example, cycling would benefit from AR glasses. At moment if I am going somewhere new, I have to keep glancing down at my phone (on my handlebars) to work out where I am (a bigger problem if I am mountain biking as paths often aren't marked). But with AR glasses, I can just enjoy the scenery and have that info always visible.

Do you see the irony in your statement, you feel that AR glasses are “less” distracting than a phone, as you want to enjoy the scenery.

If you are unsure of the path, stop, reference your digital device and take a few moments to enjoy the scenery vice having something overlay on top of that scenery.

It is not healthy to constantly be connect to digital visual distractions, take a break from it. You are being physically active while riding a cycle, excellent now give your mind and eyes a rest from digital distraction.

 

[jeremiah256]

Edition 2: what like 5 years later and a product that made zero cultural impact that everybody deemed a failure? The shining example of how NOT to do glasses? And also a product that was literally banned in some places of business because of privacy concerns?

Oh yes. THAT super successful product was totally deserving of a 2nd version! How could I have forgotten? And as we will all see, this product in no way will change to be anything like apple’s version when they release theirs.

Quick edit: just googled when the first version came out and had to correct myself. Correction. It released in 2012 so it’s not “like 5 years”. More like 7

In this specific case, it doesn't matter. There is a whole layer of technology that has never made a 'culture impact' that enables others to do their jobs and helps make the world go round. The technology that Joe and Jane Consumer interact with is primarily the frontend of an incredible universe of backend science and technology. And that's not a criticism. Most of us don't need to see or use the technology that someone working on a transformer might use. That doesn't make the technology useless.

Every privacy whistle-blower begs to differ.

Do not fear power, but fear who wields it.

Some individual consumers may not trust Google consumer facing applications with their information, but enterprises do trust their cloud services (and Glass is primarily a device that works with the cloud). One example in the video dealt with the highly regulated medical field, so you can assume businesses are getting the data privacy they need.

 

[mannyvel]

Really, there are all kinds of things you can do with this. Scan a barcode in a warehouse/on a pallet and get the manifest. Walk the streets and get IDs on everyone you see. For police, pulling up a car's information while looking at their license plate. Or even just calling out vehicles that need maintenance when looking over a yard.

 

[44267547]

This is the future of technology with wearables. We all know Apple will eventually release their version of AR glasses, but this is the type of technology that would be intuitive and useful for learning/demonstrating purposes in certain industries. I’d be interested to see the adoption rate for various field/industries that would be able to utilize these glasses to further help those candidates with this type of technology. Maybe even universities (If it in in their budget), could allow students to have hands-on with this type of technology to prepare them for their chosen career path.

 

[realtuner]

My only point was this is the second edition. You can keep your feelings, fanboy pride, and if and when's about Apple's non existent competing product. I normally immediately put hardcore fanboys on ignore since their so one sided I don't like to see their comments or talk to them but l'll
give you a few hours to read this reply before blocking you.

I wonder how many say the same about you, but don’t broadcast it and simply go straight to ignore?

 

[Analog Kid]

Insanity: repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results.

 

[bensisko]

While I don't think this has a place for normal humans in society, I think this could be very useful in enterprise and I can think of several examples, but just two:

- Automotive/Machinery - mechanics could pop them on and see an overlay of vehicle components, how to access them, assemble/disassemble and order replacement parts. Basically a real-time manual

- Surgery - Currently we use sophisticated stereoscopic sensors, combined with CT or MRI scan images to simulate the position of a surgical tool on a screen (some neuro- & orthopaedic- surgery) - but its a 3-view set of images, all in 2D. With this, a 3D model of the patient can be shown overlain on the real patient... in 3D.

And in these industries, what the device looks like is totally irrelevant.

Nope - not with these. You can do 3D overlays and things like that with something like the Hololens or MagicLeap, but not with Glass (even Edition 2).

Can we really call Glass "augmented reality"? The way I see it, Virtual Reality is an independent world which entirely envelops the user's field of view. and Augmented Reality is virtual information/design imposed upon the real world in front of the viewer. Glass is just sort of information placed in the corner of the field of view, and it doesn't interact with or modify (or, you know, "augment") anything in the real world.

Glass is just a heads-up display with a camera built onto a glasses frame.

I totally agree - this is NOT AR, it's just a heads-up display. Cool, but not $999 cool.

I think the Hololens is closer to what we want with AR in a headset.

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

So the company known for incredibly far-reaching levels of data mining on individuals, is now again selling camera-equipped glasses people can wear out in public? How many new ways of privacy invasions has Google come up with now?

 

[ipedro]

Both versions feature a 640 x 380 Optical Display Module that displays augmented reality content over the real world view, while also offering up a smart voice assistant for getting tasks done.
​

Google Glass is not augmented reality. It’s a heads up display. Augmented reality tracks real world objects and overlays digital information on top of them. It augments reality. That’s not at all what Google Glass does. It’s essentially a phone screen in the corner of your eye, displaying information that a phone would display. It doesn’t interact with the world in front of you.

 

[Stella]

That depends on how you use them exactly, AR glasses can be a lot less distracting than glancing down at your phone all the time.

For example, cycling would benefit from AR glasses. At moment if I am going somewhere new, I have to keep glancing down at my phone (on my handlebars) to work out where I am (a bigger problem if I am mountain biking as paths often aren't marked). But with AR glasses, I can just enjoy the scenery and have that info always visible.

Garmin already has glasses that connect to edge and watch products to give various data output - Varia Vision. Although just an overlay, it’s still useful and doesn’t impede your vision.

All of these are steps to what will be better products in the future.

AR glasses will absolutely be in our future - present data retrieved online in front of us. In the further future, AR contact lenses.

 

[torana355]

It does not have an Apple logo so it won't sell in the USA.
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My guess is that Apple will find a way to make their AR glasses look like a normal pair of glasses that make users want to be seen with.

I will say that Apple is uniquely positioned to succeed in wearables, moreso than any other company out there. They control both the hardware and the software, have aggregated the best customers, and have the marketing chops to promote what is essentially a fashion statement first and foremost.

Problem is Apple's AI is rubbish and will continue to be from what i can see. Really need Google's AI mixed with Apples customer base and marketing chops.

 

[ipponrg]

Google Glass is not augmented reality. It’s a heads up display. Augmented reality tracks real world objects and overlays digital information on top of them. It augments reality. That’s not at all what Google Glass does. It’s essentially a phone screen in the corner of your eye, displaying information that a phone would display. It doesn’t interact with the world in front of you.

I think that is left to the developer(s) to find usefulness for this. Without apps, your Apple glasses would be the same as well.

As far as enterprise usage is concerned, Google glasses have been used in the bio/medical industry for various purposes.
[doublepost=1558403057][/doublepost]

Garmin already has glasses that connect to edge and watch products to give various data output - Varia Vision. Although just an overlay, it’s still useful and doesn’t impede your vision.

All of these are steps to what will be better products in the future.

AR glasses will absolutely be in our future - present data retrieved online in front of us. In the further future, AR contact lenses.

I’d like one day for people to have a retina implant so they can play back your memories.

 

[RogerWilco]

Everyone says AR is the next “big thing”, and the UI seems to be coalescing around a wearable that mimics eyeglasses. I’m no ophthalmologist, but I know that focusing on a tiny display 25 mm away is not the same as focusing on objects more distant. As we age, focal accommodation becomes even more difficult. How is this UI supposed to work in overlaying data if our eyes are constantly “shifting gears” to manage the different focal distances? Sounds like a migraine headache recipe to me.

 

[Glockworkorange]

Have they actually found a problem to solve in the enterprise with AR? Because from every use case I've seen there are better/cheaper/faster way of solving those problems now. AR is sexy tech looking for a problem to solve.

Amen. Tell Tim Cook that. I remember when iOS 11 was released—he wouldn’t shut up about AR.

Gave great WWDC and product launch demos. Real world? Haven’t seen anything where I say “yes, have to have!” Likewise, I scour these forums daily, and I’m not aware of anyone else locating or using great AR apps.

All sizzle—no steak. Apple clearly has a different purposes in mind for AR; just not sure what it is.

 

[realtuner]

Have they actually found a problem to solve in the enterprise with AR? Because from every use case I've seen there are better/cheaper/faster way of solving those problems now. AR is sexy tech looking for a problem to solve.

I’ve personally seen two good uses.

The first was a noise locator. It uses an array of microphones and measures the time delay to each microphone to pinpoint where a sound is coming from. It also has a live camera feed displayed on a monitor. You simply move the camera around and it highlights the component making the noise in real time.

The second is for technicians working on an engine. They can point a tablet at the engine and it can identify the components seen on the screen. Selecting a component can bring up additional information or show proper steps to remove/replace the component. When connected to a diagnostic system it can also highlight the most likely causes for a stored fault code.