What Do You Think Are The Necessary Changes Required To Enhance The Google Glass? Essay Examples

Background

The Google Glass Technology was established in 2010, in the secretive Google X research laboratory and later unveiled publicly in April 2012. The Google Glass constituted of a wearable computer technology, where information can be displayed to the user's view with the upward glance. The development of these Glass devices has attracted innovation of many eyeglass frames that are anticipated to move the Glass technology into emerging smart-eyewear industry that can attract broader customer base.
According to Astro Teller, Captain of Moonshots at Google X, the development of the Google Glass aimed at fixing the humanity problems that are resulting from the technological advancement. Teller suggested, “Anything which is a huge problem for humanity, we’ll sign up for, if we can find a way to fix it” (Eisenmann, Barley and Kind 1). The company designer commented that the Google Glass technology was a technology aimed to free people’s hands and their eyes when looking down to their smartphone. The Google X project also includes other technological advancements such as contact lenses, self-driving cars, and Project Loon.
According to the case study, the Google Glass contains various features and apps that coordinate to provide the functionality of the Glass. One of the major features is a thin titanium band that resembled the normal eyeglasses with no lenses when worn over the ears. For this reason, this device was recognized as a single Glass handset. On the right side of the frame, the device contained a plastic casing that had a camera, display assembly, and a processor. The device also contained a semi-transparent prism, which “reflected a 640 x 360 pixel image from LED projector directly into the user’s retina” (Eisenmann, Barley and Kind 2). One reporter commented that the glass worked like bifocal that allow the user to look at the display without being blocked to the vision below their eyes. The equivalent display of the glass is 25-inch high definition screen that is viewed from eight feet away. As a result, the display of the Glass Device limits the text display to 10 words at a time.
Other components of the Google Glass involved a 5-megapixel camera, capable of capturing 720p video, battery, housed touchpad, and other electronic components. The user could activate the display by either tapping the touchpad or tilting the head to 30 degrees. The device navigation was launched by voice commands that start with the phrase “Ok, Glass” or swipe and tap the touchpad (Eisenmann, Barley and Kind 2). For instance, when the user wanted the device to capture a picture, they could use the command such as “OK, Glass, take a picture”. The audio could be heard from the bone-conducting speaker fixed behind the right ear. The audio was only audible to the user. The Google Glass was also built with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi components, which enhanced the device connection to MyGlass, an app compatible with the application for iOS and Android phones. The Glass device applied the Bluetooth connection to access internet when Wi-Fi connection was not available, access the phones GPD and SMS capabilities, and also receive phone calls. Similar to the ordinary pair of sunglasses the, Google Glass device weighed 40 grams.

Questions

After the launch of the initial applications of the Google Glass, the enhanced device was developed to integrate other features that made the application more beautiful and comfortable. For instance, the enhanced Glass contains five different colors, that is, tangerine, shale, sky, cotton, and charcoal. Other applications that were not initially present to “Explorers” include web search, real-time navigation, and email. The Glass was also built-in with the Google software apps such as Gmail, Search, Google+, Calendar, and Google Now. Other third party developers, such as Twitter, Facebook, Evernote, The New York Times, Tumblr, and CNN partnered with the Google X project. The device was anticipated to play a vital role in solving many of the problems. For example, the device was anticipated to help the firefighters with information regarding specific buildings, and assist the repair technician, warehouse workers, and delivery workers.

In your opinion, do you think Google Glass technology was appropriate?

The Google Glass was warmly welcomed by various prominent users who gave it a positive reaction. For instance, a co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, Marc Andreessen, commented, “You put it on and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, I have the entire internet in my vision” (Eisenmann, Barley and Kind 3). Other people positively embraced the Glass include the blogger Robert Scoble and David Pogue among other users. However, the Glass came with various limitations such as a small display, thin selection of application, limited battery life, malefactions such as misinterpreted audio response and voice commands. In addition, some users commented that the Glass device was unfashionable. Therefore, I think the Google Technology was accepted and appropriate.
Although the Google Glass is facing little competition currently, potential competition from the leading firms in the technology industry. What makes you think that the Google X can overcome the potential competition?
First, the Google X management can take the option of continuing selling directly to their consumers. This option involves designing of the in-house that is manufactured by the supervised contractors. The markets involve online marketing and brick-and-mortar basecamps. According to Lee, optical stores are effective because they contain workers who assist their clients to make a personal decision. However, the problem with this option is to decide whether such optical stores could sell complex and high-tech products.
Open platform is another distribution option that allows the Google Glass to be “available to any eyeglass frame manufacturer that produced a compatible frame” (Eisenmann, Barley and Kind 10). The advantage of this option is that the Google Inc. can publish the “hardware development kit” that gives the specifications for Glass compatibility. In addition, the company can give a certification program that can help them to gain a royalty from their certified partners. As a result, the company can develop a close relationship with the manufacturers who could help them develop quality and updated products.
The third option of distribution strategy would be a partnership that would help the Google X to engage in products enhanced with one or more leading eyewear partners. Such deal would see the company partner with major manufacturers such as Safilo, Luxottica, or Marchon entering into the deal with the Google X project. This option would be more appropriate than an open platform or direct distribution because the joint desire for major innovation would induce the demand, and this would provide the eyewear retailers or manufacturers an edge. In addition, this would help the Google X to tap design capabilities from the leading manufacturers that would help the firm to meet the needs of the consumers effectively.

Works Cited

Eisenmann Thomas, Lauren Barley, and Liz Kind. "Google Glass." Harvard Business School, 2014. Print