During one of our
previous class discussions, I remember one of my classmates predicting that
he/she believed that one day we would be able to directly link our brains to
our communication devices. Well, we are one step closer. As if it straight out
of a science fiction movie, Google has announced its development of augmented
reality glasses. You have to check these out:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W4CCU9M4)
These glasses are the latest hands-free device, but they are certainly more than just your average Bluetooth headset. The glasses are equipped with smartphone-like capabilities. You can voice-command text, call, etc. The most intriguing aspect, however, I feel, is that it incorporates all of our communication needs into a wearable set of glasses that displays your information right in front of your eye. Of course, this may lead one to think, is this really necessary? We really are getting lazy, aren’t we? Can’t you just get your phone out of your pocket and do all that? Well, yes. But I also think it is important for entrepreneurs and businesses to explore. Innovation is what drives our country, and it is what our foundations are built upon. Who knows what this technology could lead to next, only time will tell. Until then, we are left only with the option of predicting the future… which, with technology, a lot of people like to do. That brings me to another point. When it comes to technological innovation, do you believe our drive for new technology is based on what is necessary, or what we expect to see? For example, something I think we can all agree on is that we can envision a future with flying cars. This is most likely because of TV shows like the Jetsons and other movies that implant these ideas into our heads. So of course, there are flying cars being developed:
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgHSaNtAMjs)
What do you think drives our innovation?
Bilton, Nick. "Google Begins Testing Its Augmented-Reality Glasses." The New York Times, April 4, 2012. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/google-begins-testing-its-augmented-reality-glasses/.
Hunter, Marnie. "Flying car production rolls forward." CNN. http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-30/travel/transition.flying.car_1_light-sport-aircraft-anna-dietrich-sport-pilot?_s=PM:TRAVEL.
These glasses are the latest hands-free device, but they are certainly more than just your average Bluetooth headset. The glasses are equipped with smartphone-like capabilities. You can voice-command text, call, etc. The most intriguing aspect, however, I feel, is that it incorporates all of our communication needs into a wearable set of glasses that displays your information right in front of your eye. Of course, this may lead one to think, is this really necessary? We really are getting lazy, aren’t we? Can’t you just get your phone out of your pocket and do all that? Well, yes. But I also think it is important for entrepreneurs and businesses to explore. Innovation is what drives our country, and it is what our foundations are built upon. Who knows what this technology could lead to next, only time will tell. Until then, we are left only with the option of predicting the future… which, with technology, a lot of people like to do. That brings me to another point. When it comes to technological innovation, do you believe our drive for new technology is based on what is necessary, or what we expect to see? For example, something I think we can all agree on is that we can envision a future with flying cars. This is most likely because of TV shows like the Jetsons and other movies that implant these ideas into our heads. So of course, there are flying cars being developed:
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgHSaNtAMjs)
What do you think drives our innovation?
Bilton, Nick. "Google Begins Testing Its Augmented-Reality Glasses." The New York Times, April 4, 2012. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/google-begins-testing-its-augmented-reality-glasses/.
Hunter, Marnie. "Flying car production rolls forward." CNN. http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-30/travel/transition.flying.car_1_light-sport-aircraft-anna-dietrich-sport-pilot?_s=PM:TRAVEL.
First, to answer your question, I think that, as you say, innovation is driven by what we expect to see, but I also think that true innovation is most common where people look beyond anything that has ever been considered before. Science fiction is one of the greatest sources of innovation - authors write about technologies, and people look a little beyond, or a little to the side, of them and say "How can I accomplish that?" Also, in response to your comment about laziness, I think that the glasses will greatly improve the safety factor in using a smartphone while walking around, since you'll be able to examine your environment at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI think innovation is driven by improving our lifestyle or just making life easier. You asked in your blog if the glasses were necessary. They may not be necessary, but they make life easier. There was human existence before there was any technology at all. Animals exist without any technology. Is the microwave a necessary technology to eat food? No, but I use it every day.
ReplyDeleteInnovation is driven by the positive results we expect to yield that improve the way we live. It does not necessarily apply to what we need to have or what we don't need to have because in reality, we really don't need any technology to survive. People lived a long time before us without any of these things. But, I think it pertains to commodities and what can make life easier.
ReplyDelete