Revived Google Glass has eyes set on the workplace

Google GlassGoogle Glass – remember when that happened? Well, it’s back but, this time, its focus is on enterprise environments.

X, Alphabet’s ‘moonshot’ company formerly known Google X, has unveiled a rebooted version of the wearable eyeglass-type display in the form of the Glass Enterprise Edition – a logical step for a piece of hardware that famously failed in the consumer space and has only ever made sense in the enterprise space.

More than 50 businesses – including AGCO, DHL, Dignity Health, NSF International, Sutter Health, The Boeing Company, and Volswagen – have been using Glass for the past two years as part of a limited program. The introduction of the Enterprise Edition makes Glass available to more businesses through X’s network of partners.

Glass is useful in the workplace, especially in a factory setting, as it can be clipped onto glasses or safety goggles and guide people through the task at hand without the need to look or move away from their station. X says it has also made changes to design to make the wearable lightweight and comfortable for long-term wear, as well as increasing the power and battery life.

“Workers in many fields, like manufacturing, logistics, field services, and healthcare find it useful to consult a wearable device for information and other resources while their hands are busy,” said Jay Kothari, project lead for Glass, in a blog post. “That’s why we’ve spent the last two years working closely with a network of more than 30 expert partners to build customised software and business solutions for Glass for people in these fields.”

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