14 DAY TRIAL // Many people fear that the launch of Google Glass will be the end of privacy everywhere, but others try to see the good the device can do. One example is the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where Google Glass has become just another tool for the everyday effort to save lives.
Steven Horng, a doctor with the hospital, actually used the device to help save someone’s life not too long ago, the Boston Globe reports.
The doctor had to handle a rather severe case where the patient’s life depended on him acting quickly. Since the patient was allergic to certain drugs, Horng simply used Glass to pull up the man’s medical files and used the correct medication to stop the brain hemorrhage.
After such success, the Beth Israel Deaconness is expanding the use of Google Glass to the entire emergency department, effectively becoming the first hospital in the United States to use the device for everyday medical care.
“We’re doing this to prove that the technology can work and really motivate others to explore this space with us,” said Horng. He says that the device has so many advantages, including the fact that it’s hands-free, always on, in front of you and providing the necessary information.
The timing of the announcement couldn’t come more perfectly, since Google has just announced a brand-new program for the device, called Glass at Work.
“If you’re a developer who is creating software for U.S. based enterprises, we’d love your help in building the future of Glass at Work,” Google wrote in a post related to the launch.
“In the last year we've seen our Explorers use Glass in really inspiring and practical day-to-day ways. Something we've also noticed and are very excited about is how Explorers are using Glass to drive their businesses forward. A number of companies have already teamed up with enterprise software developers to create new ways to serve their customers and reach their business goals,” Google explains.
The device has already become popular in several fields, including along the police force, that’s been testing out how Glass fits with regular patrols. Workers installing solar panels have also taken to Google Glass and have been using the device for months.
It is expected for Glass to become available for the masses in the coming months, although no official release date has been made public thus far.