Google Looking for "Creative Individuals" For Glass Developer Program 144
rtoz writes with a quick bite from rtoz.org about Google's latest news about Project Glass: "Google has released video preview of its forthcoming Google Glass wearable headset, providing a fresh, and more realistic look at the device's user interface. Based on the demo, Google Glass will allow users to receive and execute onscreen directions, send voice-controlled messages, and search the web through speech. The UI also includes voice-controlled photos, and suggests that the device will offer onscreen translation support. And, it looks like the Google Glass will be water-resistant. Google has previously said it is aiming to launch Glass by early 2014, though it is already pushing out developer editions priced at $1,500."
They're looking for developers, but only if you're hip enough.
Hip == American (Score:1, Interesting)
And only if you live in the US.
Scarcity (Score:4, Interesting)
This taps into a basic human driver. Scarcity makes people feel special, and working hard to get something makes people perceive the value is greater.
Of course, Google needs developers to embrace Google Glass to be successful. The more the better. But by making it exclusive people will value it more. Such are the problems of a digital society, where almost all that is left is artificial scarcity.
military equip? (Score:3, Interesting)
No, no, no! The killer app will be... (Score:1, Interesting)
Contact management memory.
The glasses camera will scan faces in front of you and when one of them matches a face in your personal contact set then it will show you their name and a set of details you previously noted about them.
EVERYONE over 40 will buy a pair for this function alone and if Google supplies this app they can get users to voluntarily submit 1000% more personal info than Facebook has ever seen.
Human augmentation (Score:4, Interesting)
Think human augmentation not mere augmented reality.
Once you have a wearable computer+sensors+comms that are sufficiently advanced you can have them do the following:
0) Virtual telepathy+telekinesis
1) Continuous video+audio recording in high res of past X minutes, and low res for longer periods. This way you don't have to miss stuff - you can tell the computer to switch to high res till further notice (the past X minutes would already be in high res) and then save it. Eidetic memory for the masses!
2) Continuous background image recognition (look for faces or objects)
3) Continuous background audio recognition (voice, music ).
4) GPS+ map + compass direction feedback.
5) Work with "area/location computers" (so that you can more easily control/access location specific stuff - lights, jukebox, climate control, menus, ordering systems).
6) Many more stuff (super PDA features e.g. context sensitive reminders/prompts time+location+history+surroundings+etc ) - see below too.
If brain computer interfaces become safe, reliable and good, you could use stuff like "thought macros". For example a fancy computer program would let me link certain thought patterns with certain actions or objects.
That way I can do: [start command][recall object]{some thought pattern}[go][end]. And then the computer recalls the relevant object which could be a video, photo, sound, file or whatever.
I can also do [start command][recall previous][go][send to]{thought pattern of friend}[go][end]. Or get the computer to help calculate stuff, search databases. Or even do "rain man" counting (you could get the computer to highlight/mark the objects it is counting so that you can countercheck that it is counting correctly - humans are OK at detecting if something should be highlighted by the computer and isn't - counting large numbers of stuff fast isn't our forte ).
Thought patterns in square brackets are commands. Though patterns in curly brackets are various thought patterns you choose to associate with a person or item.
Put it all together you'd have humans with eidetic memory, telepathy, telekinesis, and other super/magical powers. The technology is already mostly there - we've already got some sort of telepathy with mobile phones etc. Heck in the 1990s I was hoping wearable computing would take off and we'd already have this "magic" by now.
The main hindrance to progress I see would be copyright and patent law. You'd be crippled by DRM and you wouldn't be able to walk into a cinema without all that stuff being forced off.
Ideas are easy. Implementation is the hard part. That's why patents suck in general ;). Go ahead implement this. All these patent trolls, suits and lawsuits are slowing down progress. Someone smart can probably work out the details and improve on the idea - I hope someone does soon - I'm getting old and tired waiting for the future to arrive...
p.s. Military edition might have gun muzzle detection, military object identification (with data), camouflage countermeasures, automatic "crack-thump" sniper location, UWB radar+comms, range gated vision (the latter two can give away your position to enemies that are suitably equipped[1]).
[1] That said, electronic devices emit signals that can be detected if you have enough fancy stuff.