An Original Google Glass Explorer Talks About Glass

Recently, I received a letter from Google saying they were no longer producing Google Glass in its current form and the explorer program has come to an end as of January 19, 2015. They told me they were going to be spending their efforts producing a consumer version of Glass.

As an original Google Glass Explorer or Glass Beta Tester, it doesn’t really affect me. I still plan on using Glass to film and record video. I plan on using it when I experience unique situations. And, I plan on purchasing one of the first pairs of the new Glass products once it’s on the market.

Google made a dynamic wearable product that enabled me, and thousands of others who were in the program, to access the Internet and share photos and video with our communities as experiences were happening. We were also able to access various apps that allowed us to interpret signage in various languages because the “computer” converted them into our native language. We were able to workout, find various places to eat wherever we were and we were able to get news instantaneously.

Many would say that Glass did the same thing as a smart phone. I’ll admit that is true. However, having Glass on your face gave you a lot of convenience that you wouldn’t have holding a smart phone.

As for the backlash, I’m still not quite sure there was any. Anywhere that I went, I never felt unaccepted. On the contrary, people would stop me on the street and ask me what I had on my face. Some people even asked if I was wearing Google Glass and asked me if they could try it on. I found it exceptionally interesting when I went to Napa Valley, California and most of the people I met had never seen a pair of Google Glass.

No one asked me to take them off. As a matter of fact, when I went to concerts and I was wearing them and my friends were holding up their mobile phones to take photos and record, my friends were asked to put away their phones. No one ever stopped me from taking photos or video with Glass.

I originally entered a Twitter contest in early 2013 called, “#IfIHadGlass.” In my first submission, I wrote:

“#IfIHadGlass I would wear them during the Diva Half Marathon and film along the way.”

I didn’t hear from Google until I started tweeting, “I want my Google Glass more than my MTV!” From July 2013 when I picked up my first pair of Glass until now, I thought that my second submission was how I got into the program but after seeing Glass Vol 001, which was a digital booklet to honor the Google Glass explorer program, I realized my first submission got me into the program. You see they used my quote in the booklet. That was exciting to see.

When I picked up Glass in Chelsea, I felt as if I had walked into the Starship Enterprise. Everyone wore Glass. It was one of the most exciting experiences I have ever had. I was shown how to use Glass and my next challenge was what to do with them.

At first, I wasn’t quite sure. I wanted to incorporate into my PR firm, HJMT Public Relations Inc. and use for clients to help them get attention. And I ended up doing just that by filming clients using Glass and sharing on social.

But I ended up doing so much more. I was part of a Google Glass exploration and flew down to The Beaches of Ft. Myers and Sanibel along with four other explorers. We were challenged to film and photograph the area and the person who did the most using the hashtag “#FindYourIsland” and “FtMyerSanibel” were given a free trip to go back. Unfortunately, I didn’t win the trip but I helped the tourism board get more than 70 million impressions on social media within the first week of us being there.

In addition to that, my staff and I decided to film a reality show using Google Glass and a hand held camera. The show, “Glasslandia”, had six episodes and focused on HJMT PR and one selected client. The show was a huge hit and had more than 60 million impressions on the Internet.

Each week we debuted an episode followed by a live Twitter chat with the staff that was a part of the series. One staff member was promoted on live TV and another was hired. I was filmed boxing through Glass and running on the Long Beach, NY boardwalk. I still have people asking me about the show and when I will film season 2. As a matter of fact, at the CES convention in Las Vegas this past month another Google Glass Explorer told me that Google watched every episode with popcorn in hand. That was pretty thrilling for me to hear!

I later took Glass to another level by realizing that Glass, maybe not in its current form, would be the wave of the future. It introduced me to the whole wearable market and enabled me to host and produce Wearable On Air and Tech News Now.

Wearable On Air is a live Google Hangout where I interview CEO’s of new wearable companies. I’ve had representatives from Pebble to Vuzix on the show.

Tech News Now enabled me to review tech products and film and interview various people on wearable tech and the Internet of Things.

Google Glass also allowed me to incorporate these shows and reviews on various wearable tech products on my blog www.HilaryTopper.com and even on www.ATriathletesDiary.com.

If Google asked me what should be on the consumer version of Glass?

I would say the following:
? A telephoto lens on the camera
? Better audio system
? Stronger way to connect with Wi-Fi no matter where you are
? Longer battery life
? More apps for daily living

Am I sad that the program is over?

I’m a little sad, but I’m excited for the future of Google and can’t wait to see what’s in store next.

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