What If People Winked in Real Life as Much as They Do Online?

I think Google aims to find out with their newest update to Glass.

In addition to several other new features, Google has enabled the ability of Glass Explorers to snap photos with the literal wink of an eye.  This new feature allows pictures to be taken without having to talk or touch Glass.  I do like this new feature and find it extremely useful, especially in crowds or noisy environments where Glass would have a difficult time hearing my voice, it will no doubt stir more privacy concerns over the already controversial new technology.

Taken using the new Wink feature and Make Vignette

Trouble with the Google GDK Sneak Peek

As promised, we have begun experimenting with Glassware.  Unfortunately, Google's instructions for installing the Glass Development Kit (GDK) Sneak Peek are less than complete.

I will spare you the unnecessary regurgitation of Google's GDK installation instructions because they are readily available online.  What I will let you know about is the portion they seemed to have left out for those of us running Windows.

In my case, I used Windows 7 64-bit and my problems began when I went to plug in Glass, the final step in setting up the Glass development environment.  Instead of Glass appearing in the Devices tab of DDMS as promised, I received a Windows installation error, "Windows could not install device driver".

Fortunately, there were trailblazers before me that already solved this issue.  Here are their instructions:

1 - Find your usb driver folder within the adt bundle folder, on my computer it was here:

C:\Users\mscheel\Development\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-20130219\sdk\extras\google\usb_driver

2 - Open up the file called android_winusb.inf
Add this magical snippet to both the [Google.NTamd64] and [Google.NTx86] section, which includes the correct PID and VID for Google Glass:

;GoogleGlass%SingleAdbInterface%= USB_Install, USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E11&REV_0216%CompositeAdbInterface%= USB_Install, USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E11&MI_01

%SingleAdbInterface%= USB_Install, USB\VID_18D1&PID_9001&REV_0216%CompositeAdbInterface%= USB_Install, USB\VID_18D1&PID_9001&MI_01

[Update August 2013 - In windows you can find the values for the above by going into Device Manager, right clicking your device > Properties > Details Tab > Change Dropdown to Hardware Ids. Once you have them make sure they match what you put into your inf file, for a developer I helped recently we had to comment out the top two lines above and just use the last two lines]

NOTE December 2013: I did not have to change the Device IDs as instructed.  After talking with other developers they were also able to just use the IDs in the samples above.

3 - Go into Device Manager and find the yellow warning icon for Glass, right click it and select Update Driver Software, choose select from computer and enter in the path in step #1 (just the parent folder of android_winusb.inf). My computer gave an anti-virus warning that I dismissed, and shortly after I was able to use Droid AT Screen to mirror my Glass display onto my windows PC, which is great for presentations.

Additional details available at my Glass Community post.

The Auto Awesome Photo of Herr House

I was playing around taking some photos of locations around campus.  I ended up taking several shots of Herr House trying to get more familiar with framing the scene.  I thought what Google+ and Glass did to the series of photos without being prompted was interesting and worth sharing.

Here is the Auto Awesome Motion Photo that resulted.  It was automatically created by taking a burst of 5 or more photos.

Herr House - Park University

Google Glass Explorer Program Comes to Park University

In early November, David Drum, Research Manager at MOREnet, presented an opportunity for individuals within the MOREnet community to join him as a Google Glass Explorer.  MOREnet links Missouri schools, public libraries, academic institutions and state agencies through a statewide research and education network.

To find qualified candidates David Drum asked those interested in becoming Google Glass Explorers to answer two questions:

1. What would you do with Glass to benefit learners of all ages in schools, libraries or Missourians in general?
2.  How do you plan to share your Glass experiences with the MOREnet community and other Missourians?

Both David Monchusie, Chief Information Officer, and James Nelson, Assistant Director of Software Development, from Park University submitted their responses and were selected by MOREnet staff to participate in the program.  Park University is a non-profit, private, liberal arts institution founded in 1875.  Unfortunately,because Google Glass is not yet compatible with eyeglasses Mr. Monchusie was unable to participate.

Over the coming months we will be exploring how Google Glass can benefit learning in a higher education environment.  We will be sharing our experiences using Glass.  We will also be developing Glassware, Glass' version of apps, designed to enhance learning and the college experience.

We are very excited to begin exploring Glass and can't wait to share with you what we discover.

Park’s Promise: Serving those who serve their community and country

with personalized, globally-relevant education for life.

Established in 1875, Park University is a national leader in higher education and is distinguished by its innovative adult-degree completion programs. The University has 22,213 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs at 40 campuses located in 21 states and online. www.park.edu

For more information, please contact Rita Weighill, vice president for university communications and marketing, at (816) 584-6211 or rita.weighill@park.edu.

Hello World

Hello World