The niches of Google Glass; The work force and the Moms
One part of being at Google I/O last week was eerily like being in a parallel future universe. Everywhere you looked you could see someone in Glass.
The sessions on Glass and developing for the platform were packed to the rafters.
Even though Google didn’t mention Glass in the keynote, it was something that people really wanted to talk about it. The hype is beyond where it is, and Google itself realizes (has from the get go!) that this is a long term play. It is part of Google X after all. The press will want to talk about how Glass is a success or a failure before it is even really released, so Google has to manage any roll out so very carefully.
Mainstream
You can debate if this will hit mainstream. Some argue that is the next step… and that people can get away from reaching into their pockets, or looking at life through their camera phone. Other’s worry about privacy, or say that getting your phone isn’t that big of a deal.
Is Glass as it currently stands: notifications + take photos + take 10 second video enough of a killer app to warrant another device to charge and feel a lil weird wearing?
A few changes could change the balance of the force. If it was always streaming video back and you could switch from “hey take a photo” to “hey, can you save the last 2 minutes as a video for me?” then the entire notion of capturing the moment drastically changes in an exciting way.
Niche
There are also plenty of niches where Glass could be useful earlier than mainstream ones. Most of the ideas are around the work force. The parking attendant who looks at a car and is told (from the license plate) that it has been in that spot too long. The in store worker who can augment the shelf with product information and know what inventory is in the back.
I do not doubt that we will see some great niche solutions soon.
Mom
And then there is the Mom. I recently got a Kindle for my wife even though:
- I always poo poo’d it (I can read just fine on an iPad)
- She has an iPad.
The reason I got it for her was because the kids wouldn’t bug her if she had it open. With an iPad though, the minute they saw it in her hand, they wanted to play a game on it.
The same happens with a phone, which is one reason why my wife’s phone is often in her bag.
With Glass though, the Mom can be always watching, without the kid reaching out. Maybe an early adopter is the Mom this time around?