Long Live GoogleGlass. Definitively Not Dead!

It is no secret any longer, that Google Glass version 2 is coming. Most of the rumors out there are, fortunately true!

I had the distinct honor and pleasure to witness the next version and chat with Google about it, as well as to provide some of my thoughts and insights about the future edition of their smartglass. The fact that I was the first surgeon who ever used Glass in the Operating Theater and have become sort of an evangelist for it, might have played a role there. I tried it in the OR  soon after my fantastic experience and graduating at FutureMed/ Exponential Medicine in 2013, experience which, by the way, reshaped my professional career!.

I’m limited by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), so none of what I’m writing is new, but I wanted to offer my view of what the future the device should be like, and especially, offer some of what I think, would be absolute “winner” features.

The focus, as you have heard, will -and should be- on the enterprise.

We are a long way for a smartglass to substitute the smartphone as a personal communication and entertainment gadget. In the industry though, especially Healthcare, which is my forte, a smart, wearable and reliable device is not only needed but becoming imprescindible, essential. Let’s face it, we are in the digital age, technology advances exponentially and we can’t be expected to integrate with the digital information (i.e. Electronic Medical Records-EMR) in an efficient, comfortable and safe manner, without the right tool and platforms.

 

The device needs to be:

1-Easy to connect to wifi networks, even un-secured ones. Cellular connectivity, even with a weak signal should be a must as well ( imagine that we need to do a remote tele-consultation, or check online information “in-the-middle-of-nowhere”). Just like Curely does for mobile healthcare advice, anytime, anywhere.

2-It must be a rugged piece of hardware, water-proof or very water-resistant; able to tolerate “field-conditions no matter the type of field! ( think of doctors from ” Medicin Sans Frontiers” using them at their remote sites”). The “glass” cube-screen, needs to be scratch resistant.

3-It must be portable and easy to carry and store. Yes, foldable, pocket-friendly!

4-Obviously, great battery life. No power, no show! And when the battery dies, make it easy and quick to recharge. Think “solar-power”, ergonomic charging cable and port!.Wireless charging capability would indeed be a “Google-like” move.

5-Better and faster processor, Done. Better screen resolution and definition (Please, take a look at ODG glasses).

6-Sturdy case. Hint: I love the G-Form material!

7-Camera and screen definition: better than competitors please.

8-I really liked the “bone-conduction feature” for the audio; in addition to speakers so that one can choose.

9-” Wink” or voice command to zoom-in or out. Really important in the OR, so that the user does not have to get closer to the target image, only aim at it.

10- Superb voice activation/recognition, as in v1, OK GLASS?! It would be amazing if ONLY  the owner’s voice (or fingerprint) would turn them on, as a security feature.

11-Affordable. Despite the enterprise being the target, an extremely expensive device, will not be easy to market, especially with a few, very good extra competitors out there. In Healthcare, if the device proves to be adequate, it will entail a massive investement to make it the standard device to carry on most “connected” tasks, but the cost investment will always be a first obstacle.

12-It has to be “open-source”. I’m just a surgeon, but the way I see it, the coders out there, need to have a workable, friendly platform,  for them to write their “Spells” so that we can do the amazing “Magic”!

13-Bring Back the Hangout capability! in Healthcare, if we think about Telemedicine/Tele-mentoring/Tele-consults, remote, virtual presence is an essential tool. Make it easy to have a real-time video chat. HIPAA compliance is a must for anything related to medicine, at least in the US, and that could be a limiting factor. There are several software platforms out there that offer “video apps” that are compliant, but it would be so great to not have to get a third party item.

14-Last, but not least (in fact, one of the Most Important features in Healthcare, especially for surgery), is the ability to “drive” the device, to manipulate the menus in a “touch-free” manner. Imagine “Minority Report” the popular 2002 movie which depicted the manipulation of the screen with just hand gestures. Believe or not, there is a smartglass out there that already does this. Amazing  Atheer Labs is the company behind them.

I’ve featured them in many of my talks, in all 5 continents, and un-officially work with them trying to translate to the world that a device like this one, could really make it happen for Healthcare, to be a game-changer, a true “creative disruptor” .

 

 

In fact, if I were Google, I would not think it twice before offering to buy-out Atheer Labs and incorporate their exciting and phenomenal features into v2.

Google, just make sure you remenber who told you about it.    🙂

 

Best