Tuesday, 26 February 2013

The Glass Project: A revolution is the travel industry?


The Glass Project is a research and development program, launched by Google, on the creation of a pair of glasses with Augmented Reality
This pair of glasses is equipped with an integrated camera, a microphone, a touch pad on one of the branches, mini-screens and Internet access via wifi or Bluetooth. It provides also access to most of Google functionalities, such as Google Agenda, Google+…
This week, Google delivered a new video that invite people to experience how it feels to wear Glass. This video shows a multitude of possibilities that make us dream like video conferencing, GPS, Internet research, translation and recording video. Now it is important to know if people will really wear this gadget. In fact, this technologic gadget is totally different from others created so far because people have to wear it in order to experience it and to be able to use all the services proposed.

Google has confirmed its intention to sell its augmented reality glasses late 2013 at an average price of 1500 dollars. Of course other electronic and software giants are also working on the development of a gadget that will compete with Google one’s. The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of ten newly granted patents for Apple Inc. It shows that Apple is working on a king of iPod video headset display.
The impacts of this new gadget will be fundamental for the travel industry for two main reasons:
- thanks to the application called “Maps” the users will no longer have to search for a destination addresses or to look for the directions after the trip. Thanks to it they will only have to walk in the street and wear the glasses to see the directions.  
- thanks to the “augmented reality” application, tourists will no longer need the service of a guide during their visits. The Glass will show up the details of a location and all the information will appear in front of their eyes.

Given the fact that Google’s penetration into travel industry is deepening, it’s evident that there might be more features coming up in future.
At present, tourism companies don’t need to adapt their products and services to the Glass functionalities but at a time of constant change this gadget might become essential for tourists and thus for tourist companies.
You think any other uses of Project Glass in travel industry? Let us know in comments.

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