Google Glass has many practical multimedia uses that we've heard about before, but a more creative way to use the device has saved a man's life according to The Boston Globe.
Dr. Steven Horng was working on a patient at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center while wearing Google Glass, and needed to quickly access his medical files. The patient was suffering from bleeding in the brain, and Dr. Horng knew he was allergic to certain medicines, but needed to know which he could use to stem the bleeding.
Without time to leave the patient, Dr. Horng pulled up the man's information on Glass and checked which medicine he could use, and then performed the rest of the procedure. Horng saved his life by accessing the medical records on Glass and choosing the correct medication.
This is a great example of how Glass could be used, and probably the most important situation so far in which the wearable technology played a role.
"We're doing this to prove that the technology can work and really motivate others to explore this space with us," said Horng, who helped pioneer the use of Google Glass at the hospital.
Horng began a pilot program for Glass last year, and is now expanding use of the device in his hospital. Every day at Beth Israel Deaconess when doctors begin their work, they will include Glass as part of the uniform. This marks the first time in the United States that a hospital will employ the device for daily use.
This is a fantastic use of Glass, and a real stride in the future of wearable technology. These devices have a place in situations where they could really make an impact, beyond just someone recording a video or doing a web search for fun. There are many applications of Glass and other augmented reality devices, and it's exciting to see where the technology will go.