At the Guardian’s Activate conference in London, which I emceed, I brought mirth with a demonstration of Google Glass. Thank goodness they edited out my many unsuccessful attempts to get the camera to take a picture of a QR code on my phone so I could pair Glass with it and show the audience what I was seeing on the big screen. Much whiplash was involved. But then I show a few functions and let someone in the audience try them out and come to a few conclusions:
First, Glass really brings three things:
1. The ability to capture what you see easily.
2. The ability to get instructions, including directions.
3. The ability to get updates and alerts.
I’m not sure all those things will need to be offered in the same device. The latter two may be better delivered as audio. We’ll see.
I also raised the spectre of a post-page media device to a room of people who devote themselves to making pages of content.
Bottom line so far: Yes, it’s awkward. I’m not sure how useful it is today. But it’s a Newton. It’s the germ of something better that will come… I think.
