Microsoft Hololens

With the reported demise (see one version here) of google glasses, news from microsoft about their work on hololens brings some relief for future watches. The video on the possibilities of the hololens provides a glimpse into a 3D virtual environment. Official launch of the hololens reported to be mid-2015 for developers.

Positive reviews on the prototype from usual reviewers - wired, cnet and endgadget.

The hololens can be envisaged as a follow through from microsoft's work with the kinect which has had difficulties moving into the mainstream beyond gaming. Forbes  article recommends some scepticism required beyond microsoft hype based on experiences with the kinect. So it's a watch the hololens space for the interim, to see what actually eventuates.

 

Google glasses - first reviews

Early this year, Google put out a call for early adopters, open only topeople residing in the US of A. These users are now just receiving their google glasses andthe blogosphere and tech websites have started to post reviews and firstimpressions. For instance, engadget features a day by day user's experience along with one from techcrunch, seroundtable, Tim O'Reilley, and one on youtube.

Comprehensive post on endgadget reviewing features and usage.

myscienceacademy features a cnet report featuring pros and cons and endgadget featured the New York Times app, optimised to run on Glasses.

Detractors also abound with examples from the UKs Telegraph and mashable. Mainly revolving around issues of privacy and how having technology so easily accessible might change the way we think.

Educational use provided on emergingtech include learning new languages, creating presentations, quick websearching, building portfolio, and the technology leading to news courses, skills and careers.

From our work on point of view classes, the advantages of google glasses is their continuous connectivity and ability to access the web. A disadvantage is the high cost – 6-7  times the cost of POV glasses we are currentlyworking with.

So, will await the launch of Google glasses to the general public, although it might be 2015 before we are able to purchase in NZ. 

Google glasses and low tech rapid prototyping

This year, we begin working with trades tutors interested in using video cameras to enhance student learning. We are working with point of view (POV) videos and the go pro cameras favoured by outdoor enthusiasts.

The learning and teaching objectives are varied, and dependent on the contexts of each trade. The approach is to try to ‘fill a gap’ in helping students learn a trade. So Peter Harrison is using the POV glasses  to video tutors’ work on engineering lathes and other machinery to provide students with guidance on the nuances of how metals behave when subjected to high speed machinery. The go pro camera is being used with electrical supply industry students, to provide the viewpoint of linesmen and cable jointers via work learnt by Andrew Massie through his academic study leave.

One development we will be closely following is the googleglasses project The google glasses bring mobile learning and the advantages of situated technology enhanced learning (STEL or STL) to an even more accessible level. The google glasses website now has enticing videos on how it feels to be moving about an information on its capabilities. 

Blogsphere and other tech sites have provided their viewpoints, examples from techradar, business insider and fastcompany after the sort of pre-beta launch of the glasses with a call for volunteers, keen to test the glasses and willing to shell out US$1500 for the hardware. Us of A applicants only though :( 

While googling 'google glasses', also happened on a ted ed session featuring the work of Tom Chi (and team?) with a more up-to date profile of Tom from this blog The interesting feature of Tom's work is his use of  rapid prototyping – using everyday materials. The useability and design of Google glasses being undertaken with everyday office or takeaway dining materials. Concepts can be put together very quickly. tested and evaluated, with multiple variations possible in brainstorm sessions able to be tested. Many of the concepts can be tested in a matter of hours and either picked to be extended and refined or thrown out. In the ted ed video, he compares book learning vs hands on learning and describes hands on learning as a form of expansive learning - as in expanding possibilities.

Slides from  the ted ed session are available here and an overview on this blog. Overall, a very salient demonstration of flexible, creative thinking being tested using 'no.8.wire' ingenuity.