July 31, 2015
Google sees enterprise role for Glass
Google Glass is back and it’s ready to work. The second generation of the wearable device, known as the "Enterprise Edition" or "EE" is being rolled out to a select number of certified "Glass for Work" partners, according to 9to5Google.
The Wall Street Journal reports the new Glass will look similar to the first Explorer model but without the frame. The EE version will be equipped with a faster processor made by Intel and come with a "button-and-hinge" to attach to various types of glasses for workplace applications. It will also come with a battery pack that connects to the device providing for longer running time. The first version of Glass had a battery life of under three hours making its use impractical for many types of uses.
Glass for Work is being targeted to the health care, manufacturing and energy fields, according to sources cited by the WSJ. It appears that privacy concerns raised over the use of Glass in public spaces may be guiding Google’s plan.
Google is not planning an official launch of the new version Glass, perhaps to avoid the scrutiny and negative press that followed the original’s release. Google has admitted that despite the steep price ($1,500) to purchase, the initial Glass was more a work in progress than a finished product. Many viewed the device as creepy because of its recording capabilities. Last November, Reuters reported that nine of 16 Glass app developers had stopped work "because of the lack of customers or limitations of the device."
- Google Glass ‘Enterprise Edition’ is foldable, more water resistant, rugged for the workplace – 9to5Google
- Google Quietly Distributes New Version of Glass Aimed at Workplaces – The Wall Street Journal (sub. required)
- Google Glass future clouded as some believers lose faith – Reuters
- Can (or should) Google Glass be saved? – RetailWire
BrainTrust
Karen S. Herman
CEO and Disruptive Retail Specialist, Gustie Creative LLC
Recent Discussions
Discussion Questions
Do you see specific uses for wearable devices such as Glass in the retail supply chain and/or store environments? How might privacy issues restrict usage at retail?
Poll
JDA demonstrated some pretty cool uses for Google Glass in warehouse environments at their user conference this year. In-store, I think it’s still a little creepy. In warehouses, it makes all the sense in the world. Hands-free operations are really valuable and efficient. Google Glass seems like a winner.
This is exactly how Google should have launched Glass in the first place. The problem is that they made such a mockery of it in the poorly conceived/implemented consumer rollout, so it might seen as a bad joke that can’t be salvaged. (Segway, anyone?)
Here are a few use cases that I came up with off the top of my head.
Industry (construction, carpentry, garage):
Ability to measure and mark distances
- You need to mark a piece of material to cut, drill, etc.
- You need to mark off an area to excavate
- You need to measure and calculate square footage
Ability to identify materials needed
- You need to identify what size wrench you need for a nut
- You need to identify what size nut you need for a bolt
Ability to identify tools
- You need to find a tool in a less organized garage
Agriculture:
Ability to identify potential plant diseases/nutrition deficiencies by viewing the leaves
- Should be able to recommend organic and synthetic solutions
- Should use GPS (or zip code) for regional accuracy
Ability to identify insects and weeds by viewing
- Should be able to recommend organic and synthetic solutions
- Should use GPS information (or zip code) for regional accuracy
Retail:
Ability to identify counterfeit money
Ability to record customer complaints or accolades (with customer consent)
Ability to record criminals during a hold up
- Cashier has a better angle of the perpetrator’s face than security cameras do
Ability to update a spreadsheet or database during an inventory inspection
I think Glass and similar devices are great for the workplace as long as they make the job easier. Oracle Retail built a prototype for in-store use, typically worn by a store manager. It allows for on-the-move access to flash reporting, barcode scanning to get product information, executes stock transfers, and approval/rejection of remote POS overrides. These are all good use cases that don’t directly impact customers. Keeping the manager on the floor and with both hands free has value.
I see a retail landscape, over the next ten years, that is well worn with many dead-end paths as retailers, companies and consumers explore AR, VR and now MR (mixed reality) spaces.
In regard to Google Glass, however, I stand by my words from the Retailwire discussion “Can (or should) Google Glass be saved?” last December.
“I think Glass will grow in favor as a business tool for many industries and over time, with some redesign and improved functionality, become more accepted as a personal communication tool by a growing percentage of the public, who are early adapters, have explored other wearables, and, like me, find they like Glass best.
As for now, I’m very interested to see where Google takes Magic Leap and hope it shows up on a future update for Glass.”
Today, the two words that most excite me, as I envision this retail landscape as mentioned above, are MAGIC LEAP.
Magic leap + Google Glass 2.0. Wait for it.
There are many available opportunities for Google’s Glass product to seek permanent employment. Purchasing, inventory control and IT Enterprise systems security and console monitoring are a few that would benefit with minimal software development expenditures. Direct secured wireless attachment to consumer smart phones, tablets and personal computers would have gone a long way to improve battery life for these units. This same capability would have given the device voice command capabilities as well as making software investments far less expensive as in enhancements or upgrades to existing applications.
Google’s Glass launch is a modern example of doing the right thing the wrong way.
Again, the fundamental issue is connection of the human brain to the universal brain represented in the cloud. Almost certainly the eye will be the dominant modality of this connection, since it is the dominant modality connecting today to the closest thing to “the universal brain,” historically.
In this sense, Google Glass is the winner, and was even with the first version. But for all the reasons discussed in round 1, it was not a commercially feasible product for consumers, in round 1. Round 2 here reintroduces the product as a COMMERCIAL product, where many of the privacy flaws are mitigated, and the $$$ value may be exponentially greater, per adopter. Plus, the new version is superior in functionality to what was essentially a prototype in v1.
Since v1 was already a proven success in some commercial roles before, it’s hard to see how v2 could fail, with an enhanced product, and following the already trodden path of success. Go-Go-Google!!! 😉
No. This entire concept doesn’t seem to fit well in the retail supply chain or retail store environment. Google Glass is a concept whose time is simply not ready.
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JDA demonstrated some pretty cool uses for Google Glass in warehouse environments at their user conference this year. In-store, I think it’s still a little creepy. In warehouses, it makes all the sense in the world. Hands-free operations are really valuable and efficient. Google Glass seems like a winner.
This is exactly how Google should have launched Glass in the first place. The problem is that they made such a mockery of it in the poorly conceived/implemented consumer rollout, so it might seen as a bad joke that can’t be salvaged. (Segway, anyone?)
Here are a few use cases that I came up with off the top of my head.
Industry (construction, carpentry, garage):
Ability to measure and mark distances
Ability to identify materials needed
Ability to identify tools
Agriculture:
Ability to identify potential plant diseases/nutrition deficiencies by viewing the leaves
Ability to identify insects and weeds by viewing
Retail:
Ability to identify counterfeit money
Ability to record customer complaints or accolades (with customer consent)
Ability to record criminals during a hold up
Ability to update a spreadsheet or database during an inventory inspection
I think Glass and similar devices are great for the workplace as long as they make the job easier. Oracle Retail built a prototype for in-store use, typically worn by a store manager. It allows for on-the-move access to flash reporting, barcode scanning to get product information, executes stock transfers, and approval/rejection of remote POS overrides. These are all good use cases that don’t directly impact customers. Keeping the manager on the floor and with both hands free has value.
I see a retail landscape, over the next ten years, that is well worn with many dead-end paths as retailers, companies and consumers explore AR, VR and now MR (mixed reality) spaces.
In regard to Google Glass, however, I stand by my words from the Retailwire discussion “Can (or should) Google Glass be saved?” last December.
“I think Glass will grow in favor as a business tool for many industries and over time, with some redesign and improved functionality, become more accepted as a personal communication tool by a growing percentage of the public, who are early adapters, have explored other wearables, and, like me, find they like Glass best.
As for now, I’m very interested to see where Google takes Magic Leap and hope it shows up on a future update for Glass.”
Today, the two words that most excite me, as I envision this retail landscape as mentioned above, are MAGIC LEAP.
Magic leap + Google Glass 2.0. Wait for it.
There are many available opportunities for Google’s Glass product to seek permanent employment. Purchasing, inventory control and IT Enterprise systems security and console monitoring are a few that would benefit with minimal software development expenditures. Direct secured wireless attachment to consumer smart phones, tablets and personal computers would have gone a long way to improve battery life for these units. This same capability would have given the device voice command capabilities as well as making software investments far less expensive as in enhancements or upgrades to existing applications.
Google’s Glass launch is a modern example of doing the right thing the wrong way.
Again, the fundamental issue is connection of the human brain to the universal brain represented in the cloud. Almost certainly the eye will be the dominant modality of this connection, since it is the dominant modality connecting today to the closest thing to “the universal brain,” historically.
In this sense, Google Glass is the winner, and was even with the first version. But for all the reasons discussed in round 1, it was not a commercially feasible product for consumers, in round 1. Round 2 here reintroduces the product as a COMMERCIAL product, where many of the privacy flaws are mitigated, and the $$$ value may be exponentially greater, per adopter. Plus, the new version is superior in functionality to what was essentially a prototype in v1.
Since v1 was already a proven success in some commercial roles before, it’s hard to see how v2 could fail, with an enhanced product, and following the already trodden path of success. Go-Go-Google!!! 😉
No. This entire concept doesn’t seem to fit well in the retail supply chain or retail store environment. Google Glass is a concept whose time is simply not ready.