Google has announced that all Workspace (formerly G Suite) customers can now apply to access Google Meet through its face-mounted Glass device as part of an open beta program.
While many people have likely forgotten about the once consumer-focused Google Glass, the internet giant has continued to offer the augmented reality (AR) contraption to businesses as part of an Enterprise edition. So technical workers needing to carry out a real-world task with their hands, for example, could view written instructions directly in their line of sight.
Back in October, Google announced its Google Meet video-conferencing app was coming to Glass as part of an early-access program. This meant workers on the ground, perhaps in a warehouse or datacenter, could join a Google Meet conference and let others see what they are looking at in the field. This could be particularly useful when trying to solicit feedback on a technical issue from experts based in a different location.
Above: Google Meet for Glass in a data center
Now, the integration is available to all Google Workspace customers using Glass Enterprise Edition 2. Given that Google Meet is integrated directly into Workspace, Glass users can join a scheduled meeting in Google Calendar directly from Glass.
Remote control
This latest expansion serves as part of a broader push toward tools that help workers carry out their jobs remotely. While this type of technology can save time and money, as large groups of people don’t have to congregate at a site to fix a problem, it also enables team collaboration while keeping people socially distanced. And a less technically minded person can look at a piece of equipment and implement a fix by receiving guidance from a technician on the other side of the world.
