Friday: Strengths and Limitations of Google Glass

During my trial of Google Glass, I have slowly been developing a list of the areas that Glass excels in and the areas where it falls short. Of course, some of the limitations I will mentation will probably be overcome when Glass in mass produced. However, until this happens, I believe they are still worth mentioning.

Strengths:

• Quick and Discreet Picturing Taking: Glass has a button on the top that can be pressed to take a picture at anytime. The same can be done by winking.
• Communication (Incomming): Text messages and emails display directly on the Glass screen as soon as they are received.
• Easy Time Check: The clock home screen on Glass can be seen by raising your head or tapping the side of Glass once.
• Navigation: Glass can display turn-by-turn navigation without being too distracting.
• Being Unintrusive: Before I got to test Glass, I figured that this big screen would always be interrupting my field of vision when I wasn't using it. It turned out that I would forget I was wearing Glass because it was out of sight and out of mind.
• Phone integration: the android phone integration appears to be seamless most of the time.

Limitations:

• Call Quality: I don't know if it is just because of the size of my head, but I find it hard to hear anyone when making a call through Glass. I believe this is because there is a small gap between my head and the speaker built into the frame of Glass.
• Voice Command: Glass become nearly useless when I'm in an area where I cannot issue voice command (class and the library).
• Communication (Outgoing): I find it difficult to respond to text messages through voice command. Although it is a neat feature, it can be tedious.
• Battery Life: Glass has a battery life of approximately 5 hours of normal use.
• Mic Sensitivity: Glass will accept voice command given by people across the room from me.
• Bulkyness: Obviously, Glass is still bulky. I'm sure Google will cut this size down on Glass over time, but for now it just isn't very cool looking.

This was my last blog post. I am going to factory reset Glass now and pass it on to Ethan. It's been a fun adventure exploring this technology. I can now see how Glass could eventually be a technology for the masses after some more development.