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Google Glass unveiled in N. Van Software firm developing applications for new technology
Christine Lyon clyon@nsnews.com
GONZALO Tudela describes Google Glass with an almost childlike sense of wonder. “It’s like looking at a screen floating in mid-air. It’s incredible,” he says excitedly. “You can see (the screen) crystal clear. It looks like it’s between five and six feet in front of you.” Tudela is co-founder of North Vancouver software development firm Vandrico Inc., which recently got hold of one of 8,000 Google Glass prototypes released to testers and developers. The augmented reality eyeglasses have been the talk of the tech world for the last year. Featuring an optical head-mounted display, users can view and control a tiny prism computer screen in the top right-hand corner of their field of vision. Vandrico is currently developing applications for Google Glass with a focus on industry — mining, shipping and construction, specifically. NEWS photo Mike Wakefield “We’re trying to see the applications of some of the new BRIAN Ho of Vandrico Inc., a North Vancouver software company, demonstrates Google Glass at a media demo of the new and innovative technologies technology at Zen Launchpad in Lower Lonsdale on Tuesday. Google is presently developing the wearable computer with a headsuch as the Google Glass, the mounted display and expects to release the technology in 2014. Scan with Layar for more photos and a video of the technology. MYO wristband, Oculus Rift, those types of technologies, and how we can apply them to reduce costs, improve production efficiency or improve safety,” Tudela says. Vandrico software developer Brian Ho could not disclose the details of the applications he is working on, but says the concept Brent Richter “It didn’t go so well,” Pearce said. “She collided with one of of a wearable computer integrates the user more closely with the brichter@nsnews.com the vehicles going by and then collided with the vehicle behind technology. “This enables the user to receive or send information where she was trying to park and the vehicle parked in front of more fluidly. It can also strengthen the connectivity between the SHOPPERS in Ambleside were witness to a where she was trying to park. It was a little bit of a pinball game, spectacular four-car collision Thursday afternoon. individual wearers,” Ho says. which I don’t think anybody appreciated.” To operate the device by voice command, users must first Three of the vehicles had to be towed from the scene and “A whole bunch of damage and, luckily, not a lot of injuries. It say “OK Glass” followed by a command (“Take a picture”) or a was probably a pretty good show for anybody there that watched damage is estimated at $5,000 to $6,000 per vehicle. question (“How long is the Lions Gate Bridge?”). Users can also it,” said Sgt. Ed Pearce, West Vancouver police patrol sergeant. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. control Google Glass via a touchpad located on the arm of the “The officers are looking at now whether charges are The driver, a woman nearly 80, was trying to park on the 1400block of Marine Drive when the pileup happened, according to See Driving page 7 police. See Elderly page 5
Spectacular 4-car crash ties up Ambleside
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