Avantica Goes Glassware

 

Abstract

Generally, new technologies are presented to the world even without visualizing what their full potential is. Google Glass is one of such technologies; when it was introduced everyone started to see what was only possible in science fiction movies. Today, its availability has grown, and many people have started to create tools that were not considered possible before. Avantica, traditionally an early adopter, embraces and works with new technology before it really becomes mainstream. 

 

This article is about how Avantica approached the challenge of incorporating Glass into the organization, but even more importantly, it is to share what we have learned by doing this process, and to transmit valuable information that can be applied by others who want to build Glass applications.

 

Introduction

In Earth, a 1990 science fiction novel written by David Brin, characters wear lenses that overlay data and record video.  Brin used his book to showcase what he believed would be technologies that people would take for granted day to day; Glass was one of his predictive hits.

At Avantica, we embrace, learn and deploy new technology regularly; Glassware–apps and services designed especially for Glass which run under Android platform–is not the exception.

We put together a contest to allow us to get to know and understand the technology behind Google Glass. Ten teams of engineers proposed their ideas and then developed Glassware in an attempt to discover what the world could be when the technology becomes mainstream.

New Paradigms Arise

Essentially, wearers expect to communicate with Glass via natural language. However, it is possible to give instructions through a more traditional mechanism, the trackpad. In any case, Glassware developers should enable the communication mechanism that better fits the nature of the application and the specific situation or location where the person is using the app.

As wearable technology goes, Google Glass displays information in a non-traditional manner. As a developer, special attention needs to be paid to the new design philosophy, integration and user interface paradigms.

Glass Design Philosophy

Among the criteria used to define Glassware design philosophy, we consider the following the most important:

• Be relevant: Show the user only the information he/she needs when is needed. Do not forget the context: the situation and the place where the information is shown. Never spam.
• Be elegant: Follow simple design patterns. Never show the user information in a messy layout.
• Be powerful: Use the trackpad, voice recognition feature and camera. Take advantage of the natural interaction methods of the device and its capabilities. Always exploit the device’s full potential.

Integration with the Ecosystem

Android provides an extensible ecosystem of mobile applications. At this point, your Glassware should not be seen as isolated in this ecosystem, but rather as a powerful element acting as part of this great gear. Our suggestions to accomplish such integration are:

• Be part of the entire system: The app should look like part of the Android Operating System.
• Be integrated: Share functionality with other apps. Build on what other applications can do for the users.
• Be social: Allow users to share their experience with the rest of the world.

User Interface

Designing an application for Glass is actually creating a work of art, embodied in the small canvas viewer. Glassware developers are constrained to a very small display, but powerful enough to present a variety of infinite landscapes for the user. The developer should aim for a user experience as pleasant as possible:

• Be clear: Show information accurately. Place text and images where they are expected to be.
• Be artistic: Minimize the user interface. Always use flat design patterns and never annoy the user.
• Be “glasswared”: Design especially for Glass. Do not add buttons to the interface. Only if required, use menus for user interaction. Use submenus only if it is absolutely necessary. Use voice recognition to capture information.

Simplicity is the Key

New Glassware-based ideas must be analyzed from the ecosystem point of view. Glassware should never be loaded with features whose nature is different to it. Smartphones, tablets or other devices will keep being the best devices to run those features. In the ecosystem, Glassware is the one specialized in augmented reality interaction.

Finally, the contest has taught us that simplicity is the key to successful Glassware. Not applying the new design paradigm might mean developers will need to go back, rework and realign the app to what Glass users expect.