Google began marketing the original Google Glass — a wearable headset that displays information in a hands-free format — to consumers in 2012. Although the hardware product didn’t catch on in the consumer market, professional industries took note. The software company Augmedix, for example, uses Glass assist physicians by streamlining patient note transcription.
Alphabet’s independent business unit, X, will oversee the new Glass product, which will be available to Google partners. In a July 18 blog post, Glass project leader Jay Kothari highlighted the fact that organizations like San Francisco-based Dignity Health and Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health have used the smart glasses for the past several years.
One critique of the original Glass product revolved around privacy concerns, since the eyeglasses-shaped product has the capability to record its surroundings. The updated Glass displays a red light when the camera function is in use. Mr. Kothari also noted the new wearable is lighter to improve comfort and boasts a longer battery life, among other updates.
“Now the Glass product team is back at X, and we’ll be collaborating with the Google Cloud team and our partners to help customers across a variety of business sectors make the most of Glass,” Mr. Kothari wrote. “Together, we’re looking forward to seeing more businesses give their workers a way to work faster and in a more focused way, hands-free.”
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