Four key points for developing the Google Glasses Application

Today's Google Glasses are different from what many people think. When it comes to the word "glasses", many people will take it for granted that we can see things through Google glasses, and think that Google glasses can display digital content in the real world in our field of vision. Some people refer to Google glasses as an immersive experience of augmented reality.

This is not the case, but recognizing this is of great help to develop independent software on Google glasses or existing mobile applications or website extension software. In addition, Google Glass and other wearable software designs will also affect the design of mobile and desktop software, as users and designers will become accustomed to the advantages and limitations of the wearable interface.

My company, Silica Labs, has built some software for Google glasses. We launched a platform to help media companies spread content on Google Glasses. The first platform was National Geographic. We made some attempts in the social networking field, this includes an application to help Google Glass users browse attendee materials and photos at regular meetings. We are also founded for SocialRadar by the former founder and former CEO of the Education Platform Blackboard) and other enterprises to provide consulting services that integrate Google glasses.

During the development process, we learned some practical experience worth sharing with you:

1. "instant" rather than "immersion"

Google Glass is designed to be the opposite of immersive experience-it is an optimized wearable camera that can quickly send and receive information updates, use a transparent crystal to project a small screen on your right eye, which is higher than your usual sight. By default, this device is disabled, and it only helps you communicate more quickly and conveniently.

We should consider Google glasses as a "head-mounted display", which allows us to view SMS updates, emails, and text messages without looking down at our cell phones, or even using browsers.

That is to say, Google Glasses provides "enhanced communication" instead of "augmented reality ". It features "instant" rather than "immersion ". Google Glasses are only a small second screen, but the reality is the "Main Screen ".

2. tailored concise functions for Google Glasses

Today's Google Glasses technology may not be able to provide users with an enhanced practical experience, but developers and designers can still make very practical applications on this platform, the key to Google Glasses's user experience is "concise"-never add so much unnecessary information to the user. It is enough to focus on the latest and most valuable mobile information.

For example, the earliest Google Glasses app launched by media companies such as The New York Times, CNN, and ELLE can only send news title updates and real-time emergencies.

3. Focus on the essence and remove cumbersome Information

Some of our partners want to add a wealth of information that Google Glasses users cannot digest, and our advice has always been to reduce the number of words, remove images, or simply retain targeted images. When you create content for Google glasses, you only need to focus on the most essential things, and those mobile experiences that seem indispensable on other platforms may become cumbersome on Google glasses.

4. Do not copy the mobile platform

When developing mobile apps, you don't just copy the desktop Web experience, so should Google Glasses-remember the differences between Google glasses and mobile and desktop platforms.

However, designers and developers have learned how to simplify the desktop experience and better emphasize key information when designing the mobile user experience. Similarly, when they develop applications for Google glasses and other wearable technology devices, they also strip the mobile and desktop experience layer by layer and discover the essence.

ELLE magazine executives said they designed a special publication for Google glasses while also improving the overall design of the mobile platform. Google Glass's instant and concise interface will affect the design on other platforms.