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Google Glass
 So, you may have heard about this new gadget that Google has come up with called Glass. But what does it do and how does it work? Let's explore theses questions and also some concerns and issues that might present themselves as more and more people start to use these. Advancements in technology are not only necessary but are also inevitable. Humanity is advancing at such high pace that it is impossible to stop the natural progression or evolution whether we like it or not.
The Google Glass is designed to be worn as regular eyewear with or without lenses. They cannot be worn with additional glasses underneath but will come with clip on lenses. It will take a while for lens manufacturers to catch up and develop prescription lenses but it will happen at some point. For now, Google is calling this the Explorer Edition from which Google learns what people really want these to do. The glasses have a pretty hefty price tag of $1,500 and are not yet available for the general public. Some developers were allowed to purchase the glasses as well as some select regular consumers who wrote a brief essay on why they should get a pair.
The glasses themselves are composed of a frame and the computer part that is located on the right arm. Inside are Smartphone parts, a processor, small battery, Bluetooth radio and 16GB of storage. A camera points to the front and a small glass rectangle, which acts as a screen, pokes out above the right eye. The glasses communicate with your Android phone for internet connectivity or they can be connected to WiFi. The Glass can be controlled by verbal commands or by using the entire right arm of the glasses which acts as a touch sensitive trackpad. In order to wake up the glasses one can either tap the trackpad or tip the head back. The verbal commands are activated by speaking "OK Glass" and then the command such as "Take a Picture" or "Take Video".
The little screen will display the information for you. Let's say that you needed to get walking or driving directions, after activating the route, the screen will display your route. If a translation is needed, the glasses will display the correct words and speak it through the little speaker by the right ear. Because you can connect the glasses to your Android phone (iPhone connection is in development), you can make calls without touching your phone through the built in microphone and speaker. Emails, text messages and posts can be replied using voice commands. Additionally, developers are currently creating different apps for the Glass. One very unique app will have face recognition that can be used to remember names and information about everyone that you meet. This can be useful in hospitals where a doctor can walk up to a patient and pull his or her file instantly.
This is just a small sample of what Google Glass can do and the future of "Wearable Technology". Google started this evolution but there are other manufacturers working on the same goal. With all the benefits that the glasses will bring, keep in mind that there will be some disadvantages. Before the glasses were released, some businesses have already banned them from being worn on premise. As with any advancements in technology, we as humans will have to rethink laws, morals, etiquette and most importantly ethics, on an ongoing basis.
Contact us at TechFarmer if you have any questions or comments!
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Weather in Colorado is anything but normal. These last few months are great examples of that. We've had from warm weather to snow, to more warm weather to more snow. As the need for water is endless, we will take all the moisture that nature will give us! All of us at TechFarmer hope that you are having a wonderful spring and that you are enjoying all of the blooming trees and flowers!