Plenty of technology enthusiasts scoffed at us when we repeatedly explained that Google Glass, though interesting, is simply not a mass-market product right now. Fast-forward to today, and it’s fairly clear that the wearable device is indeed a niche product. Glass is too far ahead of its time, too expensive, too limited and far too nerdy for the majority of us. That’s not to say similar products won’t eventually proliferate, and it’s also not to say that no one should buy Glass. As a niche device, there are several industries for which Google Glass could have a dramatic impact, and there are also some special use cases that Google Glass is perfect for.
Now, a new app being developed by researchers has shown us just how amazing Google Glass can be in some cases.
FROM EARLIER: Google Glass is no iPad
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology this week unveiled a fantastic project they have been working on. Dubbed “Captioning on Glass,” the app uses a combination of Google’s connected eyewear and an Android smartphone to convert speech to text and display captions on Google Glass in near real-time.
In other words, it can provide real-life subtitles for the hearing impared.
“This system allows wearers like me to focus on the speaker’s lips and facial gestures,” School of Interactive Computing Professor Jim Foley told a reporter at Georgia Institute of Technology’s online paper. “If hard-of-hearing people understand the speech, the conversation can continue immediately without waiting for the caption. However, if I miss a word, I can glance at the transcription, get the word or two I need and get back into the conversation.”
A video demo follows below.
