I suspect some of you already know I was selected by Google to be a Glass Explorer; I was selected as part of a group of 8,000 Explorers. If you did not yet know it, I invite you to read my entry here. The notification from Project Glass is the fourth Comment below my entry.
Although my entry refers to using Glass only for language interpretation, a myriad other uses are possible. In fact, I can share that thousands of people are already dreaming up uses for the technology. In the following photo I issue a (simulated!) command to Glass that many woodworkers dream about – “clear the clutter”. I should have added NOW!:
In the simulation above I show my simulated POV (Point Of View) as if wearing Google Glass. My voice will replicate in a message showing in the heads-up display incorporated into Glass.
Will it be possible to use the Glass technology in woodworking?
The short answer is a definite Yes! Why? Because it is possible to start a hangout using Glass. This means I will be able to launch a hangout and have a Glasscast. It will be terrific! In fact, it will be great to have Glass to chat in hangouts about woodworking techniques, to help people in need, in real time.
In fact, Scott Meek, hand plane maker, saw my post in the Google+ Woodworking Community, and said:
You have Google Glass? Cool! Thoughts? How did you get chosen? Can you broadcast to a hangout through your view? That would be amazing for my online classes.
Please stand by. I will be notified by Google in “the next few weeks” that my Glass is ready for pickup in one of three locations: New York City, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. I will let all my readers know when I have it in hand, and working.
— Al Navas
There are a lot of potential uses for Glass in woodworking once the tech has bedded in a bit. Once the augmented reality capabilities improve, imagine seeing your cut lines drawn onto your project via Glass. You could ask it to mark out the dovetail positions and rake lines, divide a board into three equal pieces, show it your mortice chisel and ask it to mark where to chop based on the width of the tool, mark the cheek and shoulder lines for the corresponding tenon… the list is pretty extensive!
I was going to submit ideas to become a Glass Explorer (I’m a programmer by day) but I’m in the UK and can’t travel to the US should I have been accepted.
Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!
George.
George,
I hope the augmented reality in woodworking arrives sooner, rather than later. I will share my POV soon; keeping fingers crossed!