Imagine putting on your sunglasses, walking down the street and in a second, turning your head and with the sound of your voice beginning to record a video. Seconds later, you have published it through your social media channels and moved on to surfing the Internet or pulling up directions to your destination on your sunglass lens.
Technology already has changed the amount of information available to us and how we communicate. But it’s only the beginning. The “human-computer interface,” as it is known in the industry, will transform how we receive and interact with information – in the very near future. The technology and tools are already here.
Google Glass
Take Google Glass. It’s a great example of a way we can share information in real-time. These internet-connected glasses combine the functionality of a small GoPro camera with voice recognition and media connectivity. That means I can take a video and share it with friends on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube with a voice command. Or walk down the street while checking my email, viewing appointments or surfing the Internet without losing the view in front of me. Check out a video here on how it feels to wear them.
Individuals needed to apply to receive these first-of-a-kind devices and be what Google called a “Glass Explorer.” I expect that they will be widely available within a year. There have been rumors in the industry that Google may create stores just to sell Google Glass – much like Apple did for its iconic devices.
First Person View
Google Glass has received a lot of attention, but there are many examples of the evolution of the human-computer interface. Android, Google and Samsung have already created mobile devices that respond to our eyes. If a user is watching a video and looks away, the device automatically pauses the video until the user’s eyes return to the screen.
The military, law enforcement, fire and rescue agencies have been using “first person view” with droids for years. We just saw it firsthand with the arrest of one of the Boston Marathon bombers.
Consumers also are gaining access to these droids, raising concerns about use and privacy. Model airplane hobbyists, for an example, have attached cameras to their mini aircrafts that allows them to see the view through a pair of connected glasses. Protecting business data and maintaining security will become more complex for organizations of all sizes.
New Interaction
The human-computer interface is not a new concept. It first surfaced in the 1970s and became more widely known in 1980 with the publication of the book, “The Psychology of Human-Computer Interaction.” Human–computer interaction studies a human and a machine in conjunction. But it’s taking on new meaning with the power of technology and applications like Google Glass.
MIT researchers even have dedicated significant time to prototyping innovative applications for human computer interface. Many of these prototypes are designed to improve our professional capabilities. One researcher, for an example, created a design system that allows a person to sketch ideas on a piece of paper with an ultrasonic pen and ultrasonic receiver that transmit it in 3D to an infrared LED computer monitor. Another designer created a computer out of paper.
It’s certain that the way we interact with computers and people will completely change in the next few years. The advancement of human-computer interface will dramatically shift how things are done and businesses operate. Imagine how the human-computer interface could change your business and how you interact with customers. With first person view, you could make a call and literally feel like you are in the same room.
Remember when Star Trek and sci-fi sounded far-fetched? Today, technological advancements are surpassing what we imagined five years ago – let alone 30 years ago.
