Assignment 3 - Research Paper on Google Glass

by Tanza Allen

A Paper Presented in Fulfillment Of the Requirements of EDID 6506[Issues, Trends, Innovations and Research in Instructional Design, Instructional Technology and Distance Education] Trimester III [2013]

Email: University: Course Coordinator: e-Tutor: Date:

tanza.allen@my.open.uwi.edu University of the West Indies Open Campus Dr. Camille Dickson-Deane Ms. Sandhya Gunness November 13, 2013

EDID 6506 Table of Contents ContentPage Introduction..4 A Closer Look at Google Glass.......5 Google Glasss Relevance to Education......7 Challenges Associated with Google Glass...12 Reflection ....13 Closing Remarks..14 References....15

Table of Figures ContentPage Figure 1: Image of Google Glass..7 Figure 2: Illustration of Google Glass. 7 Figure 3: Andrew Vanden Heuvel at the CERN wearing his Glass.8 Figure 4: Dr. Christopher Kaeding Performing Surgery with Google Glass...10 Figure 5: Medical Students viewing Dr. Kaeding remotely.10 Figure 6: Infrogram of ways Glass could be used in education...11
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THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

Graduate Coursework Accountability Statement (To be completed by student)

ACADEMIC YEAR: 2013

TRIMESTER: 3

TITLE: Issues, Trends, Innovations and Research in Instructional Design, Instructional Technology and Distance Education COURSE CODE: 6506 NAME: Tanza Allen ID: 312500057

1. I hereby certify that I am the author of the attached item of coursework and that all materials from reference sources have been properly acknowledged. 2. I understand what plagiarism is and what penalties may be imposed on students found guilty of plagiarism. 3. I certify that this paper contains no plagiarised material. 4. I certify that this is my own work and that I did not receive any unfair assistance from others (including unauthorized collaboration) in its preparation. 5. I certify that this paper has not previously been submitted either in its entirety or in part within the UWI system or to any other educational institution. 6. In the case of group work: a. I certify that the individual work of each member of the group has been clearly indicated; b. that where no such indication has been given, I take the responsibility for the work as if it were the section of the paper for which I am solely responsible; and c. that I have not collaborated with any members of the group to breach the Universitys regulations.

Signature:

Date: November 13, 2013

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Introduction
With the advent of the World Wide Web, the fields of instructional design, technology and or distance education has not looked more promising. It has brought with it, virtual classrooms, collaborative platforms, collaborative devices, computers, tablets, smartphones and other gadgets that has influenced the process of learning, how students interact with teachers and with themselves. Google Glass or Glass is one gadget, that some say have the potential to revolutionize and positively impact various fields and industries, including that of instructional design, technology and distance education. Terms such as augmented reality, wearable technology and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), are all terms that are associated with Google Glass. This device resembles a pair of glasses with only a prism to the right side that rests comfortably above the right eye. Augmented reality or AR is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data (Wikipedia, n.d., b). In contrast, virtual reality provides a view of a simulated world. According to Layer, AR allows for a digitally enhanced view of the real world. AR can add layers of digital information on top of items in the world around us (n.d). Wearable technology refers to any article of clothing or accessory that utilizes technology. The Calculator watch introduced in 1980 is one example of an earlier invention of wearable technology. BYOD is a policy or term that mainly refers to employees bringing their personal

EDID 6506 computing devices such as tablets, smartphones and laptops to work, to access privileged information on the companys network. In recent times, this term has evolved to also include students who bring their computing devices in the classroom and use them for educational purposes. There has been a lot of hype around the introduction of Google Glass; those for it, highlight all its potential, while others are against it, based on its potential challenges. Despite these issues, the developers of Glass and other engineers have continued to work assiduously to improve the product for mass distribution to enhance the lives of its potential customers. The aim of this paper is to look in greater detail at Glass and its implications on the fields of instructional design, technology and or distance education.

A Closer Look at Google Glass

Glass is a wearable computer with an optical head-mount display, developed by Googles Google X Team. This team has also been responsible for other projects such as Google Driverless Car and Project Loon; that aims to provide everyone with internet access, via an internet network of balloons in the stratosphere (Wikipedia, n.d., a). Glass utilizes an android operating system, is powered by a Lithium Polymer battery and has a dual core OMAP Central Processing Unit. It has a storage capacity of 16 Gigabytes (GB) and a memory of 1GB. As it relates to input and output capabilities Glass has a prism projector on the right side of the device with 604*360 pixels.

EDID 6506 It has a touch pad that is attached to the prism and utilizes the MyGlass app, as its controller input options. In addition, it has a microphone that recognizes voice commands in natural language, which means that Glass will be able to perform function from receiving phrases used in our daily lives. When using voice commands to perform functions on the device, the user typically starts by saying OK Glass, followed by the task they wish the device to perform. As opposed to speakers in your ears, Glass provides sound via a Bone Conduction Transducer, which translates the vibrations to the cochlea part of your ear (Svetlik, 2011), and may appear as sounds in your head. The device is also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible. In February 2013 Google launched Google Glass, The Explorer Edition, which offered developers and testers the opportunity to try the product and make recommendations to improve it. Individuals interested in the Explorer Program were required to apply for same, posting a message of 50 words or less on Google+ or Twitter, stating how they would use Glass. The successful applicants were then invited to a Google event and provided with their Glass at the cost of US $1,500. The Explorer version of Glass can perform seven basic functions; take pictures, record a video, provide directions, send a message, make a call, access Google Hangout and perform Google searches. A great feature of sending a message with this hands free device is that, the user can just say what they would like the message to read and Glass would transcribe the message and send it. In order for Glass to perform functions such as provide directions, accessing Hangout or Google search, it must Tether via a Bluetooth enabled android phone or use 3g data GPS or local Wi-Fi. The seven functions listed earlier are currently the only features Glass offers. However, constant upgrades are continuing to be made to the device, which will provide for additional features and greater functionality. Two updates that have been made to Glass so far are, pictures
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EDID 6506 and videos can now be shared via Facebook and Twitter and, the XE9 software facilitates internet connectivity without the aid of an android phone. The consumer version of Glass should be released in February of next year. By then it would have received many more upgrades, to provide greater functionality to its users at a more affordable cost.

Figure 1: Image of Google Glass

Figure 2: Illustration of Google Glass

Figure 1 Image Source: http://www.techradar.com/news/video/google-glass-what-you-need-to-know-1078114 Figure 2 Image Source: http://www.droid-life.com/2013/04/09/this-is-how-google-glass-works-infographic/

Google Glasss Relevance to Education

Glass has the potential to significantly reshape the educational landscape, even with its limited features. In using Glass, students would have the option to record lectures and presentations in real time and play them at a later time to deepen their understanding and help with studying. This would also reduce the time required for taking notes. Additionally, Glass would be a great tool for students who learn at a slower pace, as it would provide the option to revisit the content at their convenience and as often as they need to, without affecting the rest of the class. Teachers also have the option to develop video presentations, live or delayed, to
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EDID 6506 present lessons to students. The students would then experience the material in an engaging way, through first person. Students with disabilities can also utilize Glass as an assertive technology tool in many ways, including writing a paper using voice command. Glass could also facilitate a teacher demonstrating the step by step process of undertaking a complex task and allow for repeated viewing. Andrew Vanden Heuvel, an Advance Physics Teacher form Grand Haven is one of the early Explorers of Google Glass. He applied for the Google Glass Explorer Program and Google was so intrigued by his response of how he would use Glass to teach, that they offered to pay to send the science teacher to Switzerland so that he could conduct a science lesson from the site of the Large Hadron Collider, a high-powered particle accelerator (Teach Make a Difference, 2013). On his tour of CERN in Switzerland, he had a live session with students back in the US via Glass and Google Hangout.

Figure 3: Andrew Vanden Heuvel at the CERN wearing his Glass

Image source: http://quib.ly/blog/field-trips-with-google-glass/

EDID 6506 The device is also a great tool for assessments and providing feedback. With regards to providing feedback, the student and teacher can be in a live session, where both can discuss the assignment and the student gets an opportunity to have a better understanding of the teachers critique. In a Blog post on We Inspire Futures, Smith a high school educator, shares that the device can be a powerful assessment tool. He comments that When students are giving presentations, interviews, speeches and other oral assignments, educators can record the presentations and then play it back with each student. This allows students to better understand the teachers critique, while providing a valuable opportunity for self-assessment and discovery. Distance education has become increasingly popular in this decade and with the introduction of new software, more improved ICT infrastructure around the world and devices such as Glass, there seem to be no stopping the popularity of this mode of education. Virtual classrooms to facilitate online learning could be done with the use of Glass. Joe Levi from Wired stated that Google Glass could make distance learning more fun, interactive, and accessible. In addition, webinars, lectures and assessments of practical courses could be facilitated via Glass. In August of this year Dr. Christopher Kaeding, a surgeon at the University of Ohio Wexler Medical Center conducted a surgery while wearing Google Glass. This hands free collaborative device allowed Dr. Kaeding to consult with colleagues who were at another location in Columbus. In addition the surgeon was also able to transmit the live video of the operation remotely to a group of medical students (Wikipedia n.d., a; Educause, 2013). The Blog site InformED, operated by Open Colleges, have been looking at the potential use of Glass in education and have proposed 30 ways it could be used. A few that they have mentioned include remote teaching and one on one tutor sessions, creating first-person video guides for a collective

EDID 6506 class experience in real time and the interaction of instructors with peers in a classroom via online learning.

Figure 4: Dr. Christopher Kaeding Performing Surgery with Google Glass

Figure 5: Medical Students Observing Dr. Kaeding remotely

Images Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57600378-1/surgeon-live-streams-knee-repair-with-googleglass/

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30 Ways to use Google Glass in Education

Figure 6: Infrogram showing ways Glass could be used in education

Image Source: http://www.edudemic.com/how-to-use-google-glass-in-education/

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Challenges Associated with Google Glass

While Glass has the potential to positively affect instructional design, technology and or distance education, it also could have negative effects on this field. The possibility exists that students could use the device inappropriately in classes and serve as a distraction as opposed to an educational tool to assist in learning. Foradian (n.d) advised that The distractions a smartphone causes in a classroom are well known, students wearing Google Glass will bring about a whole new level of the same. Another challenge with the device is its short battery life, especially after consistent use. According to Epstein, the Explorer version of Glass has awful battery life. The device could run for about three hours with constant use, however, depending on the functions being performed by the device this time could also be less. Concerns have been raised by Privacy Advocates about the possibility that Glass could be used to intrude on the privacy of others by surreptitiously recording and broadcasting persons private conversations while in public, as well as utilizing the face recognition to identify strangers in public. As a result some companies have banned the use of Glass in their establishments (Wikipedia, n.d., a). Another issue that Glass has is that its storage capacity is not expandable, which means when the user has reached maximum storage capacity on the device, some of the data will either have to be transferred to an external device or deleted. The current exclusivity of the product, in terms of persons being selected to own the explorer version will hamper the chance of more persons getting the opportunity to own the product as well as the cost. At US $1,500 not many persons will be able to own Glass, especially in a challenging economy such as this one.

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Reflection

The process of creating this research paper started out as a frustrating experience. I searched long and hard to find a trend or issue, that was emerging. It didnt help that more often than not, requests that my colleagues made to research possible trends or issues were denied, as they did not meet the requirement of being recent enough. In an attempt to find a suitable topic, I enlisted the help of a friend. While this process took longer than we expected, one thing became apparent; there was a vast array of technology and innovations available to enhance the delivery of education that we were ignorant to. Through the research I became aware of teaching and interactive platforms such as Knowmia, echalk as well as terms such as Flipped Classrooms and Bring Your Own Device. After overcoming the obstacle of finding an appropriate topic, I started to research on Glass to find as much information as I could. It became somewhat overwhelming to find so much information about the device and that made me a bit nervous about presenting it. This was due to the fact that I wanted to showcase all its features that could positively affect the process of instructional design as well as distance education. The fact that Glass is still in the developmental phase and has had so many upgrades from its initial release to now did not help my feelings of being overwhelmed. However, going back to the Rubric did provide some assurance of what I needed to cover as well as a guide in completing the assignment. Through this assignment, I have learnt about terms such as augmented reality, wearable computers or technology and how they can be included in instruction technology and distance education. The exercise also provided enlightenment as it relates to ways in which educators use innovations to deliver instruction and

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EDID 6506 engage their students. Through this assignment I was also able to catch a glimpse of the future, with regards to education and training.

Concluding Remarks

Google Glass was developed to revolutionize the lives of its users. This hands free device has already begun to make waves in the healthcare sector as well as in education. Unfortunately, Glass has also come with feasibility and privacy concerns. While it has the potential to assist students, it also has the potential to distract students in the classroom. Despite the possible challenges that the device brings, it also presents with it great opportunities. In order to weigh the effects of Glass, one must consider both the pros and the cons of the device. A key point to consider though is that the device is still in its beta stage and Google as well as other developers are fast and frequently making upgrades to the device. From the research that was conducted on Glass, there has been one consistent theme that I have realized with regards to its use and that is, with regards to the positive effects of Google Glass, the possibilities are endless.

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References:

Educause. (2013). Wearable Technology. 7 Things You should know About. Retrieved from https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7102.pdf Epstein, Z. (May 1, 2013). Google Glass is the future and the future has awful battery life. Retrieved from http://bgr.com/2013/05/01/google-glass-battery-life/ Foradian. (n.d). How Google Glass is going to Innovate Education. Retrieved November 10, 2013 from http://foradian.com/post/49920105096/googleglass Layar. (n.d.). Augmented Reality. Bring Print to Life. Retrieved November 10, 2013 from www.layar.com/augmented-reality/ Smith, G. (October 1, 2013). Google Glass and the Future of Education. We Inspire Futures. Retrieved from http://www.weinspirefutures.com/front-page/googleglass/ Svetlik, J. (2011). Google Glass to use bone conduction to transmit sound. Retrieved from http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/google-glass-to-use-bone-conduction-to-transmit-sound50010332/ Teach Make a Difference. (September 13, 2013). Using Google Glass to Transform Education. Retrieved from http://teach.com/education-technology/using-google-glass-to-transformeducation Wikipedia. (n.d., a). Google Glass. Retrieved November 10, 2013 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Glass Wikipedia. (n.d., b). Augmented Reality. Retrieved November 10, 2013 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality

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