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Augmented reality and ID tagging might be the killer apps for video glasses

Ross Dawson, October 16, 2009 10:01 PM US PT

Since 2006 I have owned and written about video glasses, including in my Six Trends that are transforming Online and Future of Media Lifecycle framework.

Despite my predictions, we still don't see many people around wearing video glasses. However I still think it's going to happen, as I predicted earlier this week.

In the many radio interviews I've done this week I was asked a lot about the video glasses. As I explained, there are many applications for video glasses, but augmented reality is the most powerful.

The recent swathe of augmented reality apps on iPhone have shown us the very beginning of the potential of AR. However people don't want to be always holding up their phone in front of their face.

A case in point is ID tagging, in which facial recognition software identifies people in your field of vision and provides additional information about them. This is something far more easily and less obviously done using video glasses.

The classic scenario is that you see someone you've met before and don't remember their name, but your AR glasses displays their name and any other publicly available information or things that you've noted previously next to them.

Imagine when the technologies in this video can be embedded into your glasses. This kind of information could easily get people to start wearing glasses when they go out into social situations.

2 Comments

Simon Dufour said:

I recently read one of your interview and it lead me to this blog. I've been thinking about this subject a lot lately.

In my blog, I've structured my idea on how Social Networking and Augmented Reality will probably merge eventually.

[http://simon-dufour.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-communication-will-change-our-world.html]

It really matches what you're saying so I'm really proud to see my predictions aren't too far-fetched. The main idea is that young adult, right now, are highly dependant on social network to communicate. The IPhone and and its AR really shows that people has interest in the technology too. None of them are mature technology however and I'm pretty sure they'll be another drastic change in both of those field in the near future.

Facebook already showed it's an evolving platform and I really wish they never settle down. Cellphone technology will continue to evolve. The main problem is that innovations are now tougher to come by. All the devices can take the shape they want to give it (that wasn't true a few years ago) and size and functionality are now taking priority. Touch devices are here but probably over hyped. While some controls are indeed more friendly, the device is way more fragile and it's hard to see how it could be improved since there's no way they could reduce the device size or anything. In fact, the devices tend to become bigger and bigger. That really puzzle me.

Anyway, to stay on the subject, I indeed think that video glasses are the way to go. Hand gesture could also be used as the interface between the glasses and the user. Eye movements could also be used in some way too.

Social networking will probably be one of the biggest application of virtual reality. As you said, a video-camera could be used to identify the person in front of you. However, it don't really make sense in a long-term initiative. If we base ourself on the augmented speed of the acceptance of new technology, the device will become widespread really fast. At that point, face recognition becomes useless. Devices could communicate with each-other at short range and provide ID of the person. With an interface with social network, it could be possible to share way more than name too. Singles could decide to be marked as such. Anything of interest could be shared in a "Twitter" style way. The main goal here is to bring the advantages of social networking into real life and make it transparent.

Personally, that's how I think the trend will go. Sure, lifestreaming is also a great idea. I think it could even work well together. Sharing picture and videos online with all your friends instantly without any special devices.. what could be better? I'm not even mentioning the fact that it could also be used for distant communication (like cellphones).

Possibilities are really endless. I can also see where this trend is going and I agree that it's really exciting. As for your time prediction, I think you're being a tad conservative. If you check how far technologies have gone in the last 7 years, I really think it'll be faster than that before we see some as spectacular as what you mentioned. I will agree with you if we're talking about widespread acceptance however.

Anyway, I now bookmarked you blog. Really interesting. Thank you.

October 22, 2009 7:41 AM

Ross Dawson said:

Thanks for your great comments and also blog post Simon - nice stuff.

Some have said that these forecasts will take more than 7 years to come to pass. Good to hear that I'm not at the extreme of believing in the pace of change :-)

October 23, 2009 7:21 PM

Ross Dawson is globally recognized as a leading futurist, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, strategy advisor, and bestselling author. He is Founding Chairman of four companies: professional services and venture firm Advanced Human Technologies, future and strategy consulting group Future Exploration Network, leading events firm The Insight Exchange, and influence ratings start-up Repyoot.

Ross is author most recently of Implementing Enterprise 2.0, the prescient Living Networks, which anticipated the social network revolution, and the Amazon.com bestseller Developing Knowledge-Based Client Relationships (click on the links for free chapter downloads). He is based in Sydney and San Francisco with his wife jewellery designer Victoria Buckley and two beautiful young daughters.