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[glaxplorer]

Launching my first app for Glass: DriveSafe

I’m excited to announce my first Glassware: DriveSafe, for Google Glass

DriveSafe is #glassware  that can detect when you are falling asleep using Google Glass’ sensors, and trigger and alert to wake you up. It can then direct you to the nearest rest area so that you can continue driving safely later on.

If you have Google Glass, you can download DriveSafe here: https://github.com/victorkp/DriveSafe4Glass/blob/master/DriveSafe4Glass.apk?raw=true

Check out our site: http://www.drivesafeforglass.com/

This is version 0.1 so there will most certainly be bugs, and it is far from perfect. I’d love to hear your feedback.

Shoutout to the DriveSafe team: Victor Kaiser-Pendergrast, Jeremy Avery and Ryan Scott Spletzer

[glaxplorer]

Premature rejection: Google Glass is pointing the way to the future Google is onto something with its Glass project, something big. Though only available to a tiny audience as an “alpha” project now, the computer in glasses format addresses unmet consumer needs better than existing solutions.

[glaxplorer]

You know Google Glass' simple home screen? It's defining the next decade of technology.

When the iPhone was first released, Apple did something very un-Apple-like: they left a lot of empty space on the home screen. As we all know, Apple is a company that is known for perfecting every detail of their devices. Each curve, icon, and pixel has a purpose. So why leave a quarter of screen as empty black space?

It left the door open for possibilities; possibilities that now number more than one million.

Google has done the same thing with Glass. When I first picked up my Glass back in June, there was only a couple of voice commands that followed the initial "OK, Glass" prompt: "Take a picture", "Record a video", "Google", "Get directions", and some others. Just six months later that list has expanded to include such things like "Start a workout", "Play a round of golf", and even "Translate this".

Soon, the above list of voice commands will be endless, yet not overwhelming. Google wants you to say anything, wherever you are, and have its services respond. That's why Glass was designed to be worn on your face, closer to your mouth than a watch. Ask for something, and Google is right there. Just look at desktop voice search or touchless control on Google-owned Motorola devices for proof.

In a few years, Glass will be the hub for all the smart clothing we'll be wearing, and will be the way we communicate on the go. That silicon and plastic brick in your pocket? Gone.

When you're at home, Glass will continue to be that hub for your connected/smart devices, allowing you to control all aspects of your house with a simple, natural voice command. Actually, this is something that is already possible today. But imagine if all of your devices at home had Glass' core voice recognition functionality built in?

Google has said that they're ultimately striving to build the "Star Trek computer", but I think they're on track to give the world something more along the lines of Tony Stark's JARVIS. And that's A-OK with me.

[glaxplorer]

How To Not Be a "Glasshole"

When Google Glass was released to early adopters ("Pioneers" and "Explorers") the unfortunate terms of "Glasshole" became the way to describe them. Now, whether that term stemmed from a sense of jealousy or misunderstanding of how Glass is used is up for debate, I'm here to help Google Glass Explorers dispel the notion of a "Glasshole" by being proper ambassadors of Glass.

== Steps ==

Realize that you're one of maybe only ten thousand people in the entire world who have this futuristic technology. You will get attention. You essentially agreed to this being OK by paying $1600 for the privilege.

If the B-list celebrity status bothers you for some reason, don't wear Glass in public. Simple.

Now, when someone first notices Glass on your face, one of five things will happen: A) They will glare at you and not say a word. This can either be because they think you have a medical condition or they're way too nervous to approach you and ask you about it. B) They'll try to discreetly whisper to their friend that you're wearing Google Glass. The friend will likely not know what the heck they're talking about and then begin to point to the side of their temple as they attempt to explain what this Star Trek gadget does. You continue to pretend like you don't notice them talking about you. C) If they're more of the social type, they'll come right up to you and ask "What's up with your glasses?" or "What are you wearing on your face?" D) Then there are times when people know exactly what Glass is and proceed to react as if they've literally seen all of their favorite celebrities at once (or play it off with a hipster-like "Ya, I've seen those before. Cool, man."). E) Finally, there are those that ask you stop recording them. Sigh.

Now, how to respond? For situations A, B and C, smile! :D (Not that you shouldn't always be doing this). Approach the curious party, tell them "I'm wearing Google Glass. It's a way for me to see important information like emails, tweets, sports scores, and news headlines without having to pull out my phone. I can also have Scotty beam me up to the Enterprise." Something like that.

Offer for them to try it on, if you're comfortable with that. Enable Guest mode and show them that Glass doesn't just record videos. If they need some help using Glass, use the MyGlass app on your phone to help them - it now has the ability to remotely control Glass. [*Use common judgement when allowing people to try it on. For example, if someone approaches you in a back alley at night with no one around and asks to try on your Glass, odds are they aren't giving it back. Also, don't walk in back alleys at night. But that's for a different article ("How to not be an idiot and die.")]

For those that treat you like teenage girls react to Justin Bieber, well these encounters are fun. Just try not to roll your eyes when they ask "Does it actually work?" Answer any of their questions, let them try on Glass, but don't let kidnap you. If you have the time, I'd say a solid 5, maybe 10 minutes is a fair amount of time to demo Glass for them.

Now, to those that insist that you're recording them. Kindly reply that you are not recording them. Show them that if you were recording them, the screen would be on and clearly visible. Open the MyGlass app and show them what you're seeing. Ask if they would like to try Glass on for themselves, and mention how Glass is mainly intended to be a heads up display for important notifications, not a life-streaming video camera. The battery would only last 30 minutes anyway, if you did nothing but record video.

If the person insists that you stop recording them, no matter what you say,kindly oblige and make use of that fancy cloth case that Google provided to you. No use in getting into some argument over something trivial like this. Besides, they'll see the light in a year or so from now ;)

Lastly, feel awesome that you likely just made someone's day (if not week). You are an ambassador of the future, sent forth by El Googs to show people that they no longer have to glare down at their phones to tweet or Instagram their lunch! Oh, the future is bright!

Originally posted to Wikihow: http://www.wikihow.com/Not-Be-a-%22Glasshole%22

[glaxplorer]

Not only is Glass not distracting while driving, but others are saying that it could even save lives. I agree.

[glaxplorer]

Glass is Different.

Not everyone loves Google Glass, at least, those who know what it is. To those who claim to dislike it and cry that it is the end of all privacy as we know it, I say this: Before dismissing them, why don't you try them on first? You can't form an opinion about something that you haven't either seen nor touched.

I can tell you that EVERYWHERE I go, people get extremely excited when they see me wearing Glass. When they try them on, I've seen nothing but smiles and jaws drop. And these people are almost never techies. They're waiters/waitresses, teens, little kids, pilots, businessmen/women, religious figures, moms, dads, a random passerby. Everyone is excited. Why?  Because Glass is different. But that newness, that inability to comprehend something that we haven't seen before, is what some translate into fear, or hesitation. Having just come from seeing the Jobs movie (which I know wasn't historically accurate), this thought is in my mind: Doing things differently is what wins the day. Google is the new Apple, and I think they'll be as successful as Apple was the past decade, in the coming decade. Why? Because they're think[ing] different[ly].

[glaxplorer]

Pure Michigan [through Google Glass]

Last week I drove up to northern Michigan with 15 of my friends for a camping/stargazing/exploring trip. We went ziplining, biking around an absolutely beautiful island, rock climbing, stargazing under the Perseids Meteor Shower, and watched massive cargo ships navigate the Soo Locks on the US-Canada border.

Glass made it ever so easy to capture it all (save for the stargazing).

It was a Pure Michigan weekend, through Glass.

[glaxplorer]

Ziplining with Google Glass!

This weekend I went up to Northern Michigan to go camping, stagrazing and exploring with a bunch of friends. I took a LOT of amazing photos, 99% of them with Glass (and a few here and there with my Galaxy S4). I've said this before, Glass really lets you capture moments quickly, thereby letting you live those moments through your own eyes, and not through a camera screen.

[glaxplorer]

I took Google Glass to Cedar Point, Ohio yesterday and got some great POV footage on the Millennium Force coaster.

I was hoping to get some more footage on other rides, but couldn't bring it on Mean Streak because I was told it would be a "marketing issue". Based on the footage I was able to get above, it seems that the only issue there would be is that the vantage point is too good.

Glass allows me to capture these fun experiences without having technology get in the way; it literally disappears on your face.

[glaxplorer]

Google released Chromecast today - alittle $35 HDMI dongle for your TV that lets you use your mobile devices (Android AND iOS) as pseudo remote controls for content. Meaning, play Netflix or YouTube on your tablet, and with a tap, have it play on your TV.

Now, imagine how Google Glass could work with Chromecast!?

"OK, Glass....Play the next episode of Breaking Bad on Netflix."

Glass becomes an always listening, always responding, TV remote.

"OK, Glass....Play the latest breaking news reports."

Did Google just transform the living room?

[glaxplorer]

Sunset yesterday #throughglass

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Ran into my first fellow Google Glass Explorer when I was in Ann Arbor, MI this past weekend for the Art Fair. I saw him walking right past me, and shouted "Google Glass! Hey!" At first he thought I was being another jealous onlooker, and kinda nodded and kept walking. I quickly tapped on his shoulder and got his attention, which is when he noticed that I was wearing Glass too! "Oh, cool!" he said. It was both of our first times seeing someone else with Glass. We chatted for a minute, and then took a picture of each other at the same time :)

[glaxplorer]

Went down to the Ann Arbor Art Fair today and took some shots with Glass

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Why You Shouldn't Return Google Glass

Yesterday Ron Miller announced on Internet Evolution that he will be returning his Google Glass. Here's why I think he shouldn't.

It's understandable why Ron wants to return his Glass - I know that not everyone is going to go head over heals for it. I will admit, like anything, Glass loses part of its "magic" once you start to use it. That's not to say that Glass isn't a remarkable piece of technology - Gd knows I love it - but think of it like a magician revealing how he does his trick.

  My sense is that Ron may have gone into the Glass experience expecting it be a replacement for his phone. One important thing about Glass to understand is that it is not meant to duplicate everything your phone can do; it's only meant to keep you aware of things that are important or that may need your immediate attention, thus avoiding unnecessary glances down to your phone (this being aside from all the hands free benefits that Glass delivers).

But that's simple the "version 0.5" application. Part of the reason we joined the Explorer program is to wear Glass in everyday life and let use-cases come to us. Let it spark ideas and conversations, and allow it to challenge people's perception of the status quo.

That's what I'm letting it do at my company. Beyond meeting with some of the folks in our R&D department, I will be meeting with those who are responsible for digital communications, to discuss rethinking our policies on cameras on company grounds. Glass represents what the future holds, which in this case means more ubiquitous cameras. That future could include Glass, or it cannot, but its coming no matter what, and it's best to start the conversation now, and move away from policies that are over a decade old.

[glaxplorer]

Driving with Glass

You know, it's pretty remarkable what Glass can do out of the box. Text, call,  alert me of breaking news, store my calendar, send me sports scores, take photos and videos, and give me  heads-up-display navigation. Honestly, when people have approached me recently asking about Glass, I stumble - "Where do I start?" Glass does so many things, and does them well - I feel like I've done the curious individual a disservice if I leave out one of it's capabilities. One time, I somehow forget to mention that Glass takes pictures! (smacks head)

Using Glass while driving is actually something that I've been asked by both friends and family to be careful doing, or to avoid doing at all. I completely understand their concern - how could a having a light beamed into your eye not be distracting? If anything, wouldn't it be just as distracting as your GPS, and if that's true, then what's the point of Glass? 

...how could a having a light beamed into your eye not be distracting? If anything, wouldn't it be just as distracting as your GPS?

Both are very valid questions, and the first time I used Glass while driving, on familiar roads, I wondered some of those same things. At first I thought that Glass was just as distracting as using my phone as a GPS mounted in the center console, because whether I was looking down at my phone or up at Glass, my eyes weren't on the road. I soon came to understand, though, that I wasn't using it quite right. (Or as the late, great Steve Jobs would say: 'You're holding it wrong.')

When using Glass navigation, as visualized in the picture I took above (Glass-screen added and emphasized for effect), the display shows where you are on the road, and whispers the next step behind your ear, using the bone conduction speaker (more on that specific feature in a separate post). The display only activates before each step, or when you tap the touchpad to wake it up. Otherwise it is off and out of your line of sight.

Glass is not augmented reality

As Google has emphasized to us Glass Explorers, Glass is meant for "micro-interactions", meaning that you just quickly look up at Glass for a short burst of information, and then go back to what you're doing. Glass is not augmented reality. It is not meant to be stared at. And it is not meant to replace your smartphone (not yet).

What I discovered, and feel that I taught myself, actually makes you realize that Glass is quite brilliant (not that I didn't already feel that way). What's brilliant about it stems from Glass' intimacy - the delivery of micro-information to you, and only you. On top of that, it gives you two 'pathways' to that information - visual and audio. So what I learned, and encourage you to do when you begin using Glass, is this: focus on the voice instructions from Glass first (you'll hear a beep right before it is spoken). If by chance you didn't hear it, or need further confirmation on the next step, quickly glance up at the screen to see where you are, where you need to go next, and then back at the road.

Now, those who currently have Glass will argue that the bone conduction speaker can be next to useless on most occasions, especially in a car with the windows down and radio blaring. I don't disagree. Let's not forget that Glass is still many months away from the market, and will only get better over time. A volume control is already expected to be released in next month's over the air update (XE8).

Glass is still many months away from the market, and will only get better over time.

Non-Glass users will argue that what I described above isn't any different from smartphones on the market today. Again, at a high level, I don't disagree. The secret sauce here is that intimate experience that Glass offers - having the instructions whispered right into your head (without seeming schizophrenic) is something that you have to experience to fully understand. It is something that allows you to continue to focus on the road, more than you would with a Garmin or smartphone, while still knowing where you need to go next. You're friends will think you're a wizard or something, I promise.

Now, while I can't let everyone try on Glass to experience what it is actually like, I can do my duty as an Explorer and educate as many people as I can. For example, some legislators in West Virginia, Delaware and other states have already attempted to ban Glass while driving. Something tells me they haven't even seen Glass in person yet, let alone tried driving with it, but I think if they tried Glass, at least for a few minutes, they might have different thoughts about it. If you are a Glass Explorer in West Virginia, Delaware, or any of the other states attempting to ban Glass, I encourage you to meet with your legislators and let them try on your Glass.

If you are a Glass Explorer in West Virginia, Delaware, or any of the other states attempting to ban Glass, I encourage you to meet with your legislators and let them try on your Glass.

Glass is an entirely new product category, and a whole new sensory experience. I can understand those that are trying to preemptively ban it - it's a scary new world. But it's also exciting, and if we study how we can use it to our advantage, for things like safety and efficiency, instead of trying to run from it, we may actually find Glass to be one of the most significant pieces of technology of the next decade.

[glaxplorer]

Just added the Tumblr Glassware to my Glass - be on the lookout for posts #straightfromGlass

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Why I Spent $1,500 to be a Glass Explorer.

Google hasn't required us to do anything after we picked up our Glass.

They gave us access to a private discussion forum where we can share ideas, pose questions, comments, etc. with other Glass Explorers, but are not in any way required to contribute to those forums. Google employees regularly read and participate in these forums, and take our feedback to heart. Google pushes updates to our Glass over-the-air every single month, and you can see that they're listening to our comments and suggestions. It's VERY cool to be able to effectively contribute to how Glass is shaped and programmed for when it is released to public. It's a very empowering experience.

Sharing my thoughts and experiences through places like this blog post just comes naturally when you're dealing with a piece of technology that is so revolutionary in so many ways, and has the attention and curiosity of so many people. Walking around the streets of places like Indianapolis, Chicago and New York, like I have been in the past 2 weeks, while wearing Glass, makes you feel like a celebrity; with the way people's faces light up and steal glances at you when they notice Glass on your face. On top of that, you get to have conversations with people you would normally wouldn't (such as the pilots of my pilot from NYC to Detroit).

Being a GL^SS Explorer is truly a once in a lifetime experience, and I want to take advantage of every second of it. If you had the opportunity to contribute to how a piece of technology will be used by millions of people, wouldn't you feel the same?