Mi-Co CEO Enters Google Glass Contest with Social Mission
By: Lily Shabani
In the recent past, the proliferation of several different types of mobile technology has had a huge impact on the way we live our daily lives. MapQuest has become a obsolete thing of the past, as having a GPS has become exceedingly popular. You probably have a GPS yourself. In fact, you probably own a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or some combination of all of the above. Nowadays, most jobs require experience with computer programs like Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint—but these are just the basics of all available computer software.
What’s the next step in the race for technological innovation? Well, the front runner appears to be Google Glass. Glass is a set of prismatic lenses (similar to glasses that we wear every day) that serves as a computing device. Its goal? To reduce daily distractions caused by your computer and phone, and instead facilitate a much more natural way of observing and communicating with others. The best part about it? This isn’t just Google hype—Glass actually delivers. You can read all about Glass and one user’s experience trying it out here. Seeing as how Glass is a new way of capturing data, Google Glass is almost certain to become a part of future mobile business strategy.
But Google is still working on improving Glass—gearing up for consumer launch by the end of 2013. Yes, Glass could be in your hands this year. Google acknowledges that Glass still needs improvements. So in an effort to learn more about the ways with which consumers plan on using Glass, and how to improve the overall user experience, Google asked bold and creative individuals to send out a social media message explaining what they would do with Glass. Google is then going to pick from the applicants to be a part of their “Explorer” phase.
A photo captured by Clary of North American / Honduran interaction. North American organizations like Sharefish aim to improve the lives of Hondurans by enhancing education, nutrition, housing, medical and economic opportunities.
You can search some of the Tweets of @ProjectGlass under #ifihadglass, and you will see a WIDE variety of proposed uses. But one that is close to Mi-Co as a company, is that of CEO Dr. Greg Clary. Clary is a dedicated philanthropist, and has made charity one of the founding principles upon which Mi-Co was built.
Naturally, Clary entered the #ifihadglass contest with a social mission in mind. Focusing in on the benefits that Glass use could have in underdeveloped areas, Clary entered the contest with this entry:
“#ifIhadglass in the developing world, I would lookup the date of family’s last food delivery, check vaccination status, help children communicate with sponsors, measure concrete blocks quicker, translate what they say they need, blog easily, discover other nearby NGOs, show the children Glass and translate larger numbers of loving words.”
Clary with a team, hard at work building homes in the local southern Honduras community of Orocuina in February 2013.
Clary’s Glass goals are an inspiring interpretation of a technology that some may see as just a pair of “smartglasses”. Google didn’t create Glass just to replace your cell phone. Google wants to give back life experiences that have been missed by constant texting and playing games of Angry Birds. Glass gives you the ability to actually see what’s going on as you live your life.
The future of Glass is bright—and Mi-Co is hoping to help shape Glass through Clary’s unwavering commitment to social responsibility.
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