Google Glass: A Sharp Tool for Journalists

When it comes to Google Glass, there is often a polarized attitude. On one hand, those concerned about privacy see it as a major threat to humanity, and they are not short of supporters; on the other hand, certain professionals believe it has great benefits. For instance, an executive looks forward to its real-time translation capabilities, while a physician sees its potential in healthcare. It appears that Google Glass could very well become an important tool for professionals. Speaking of which, you might also think of an industry where Glass can make a difference: journalism. In this regard, Tim Pool, a journalist at Vice.com, is a pioneer.

Currently, Tim Pool is in Los Angeles preparing to attend the Def Con and Black Hat conferences. He gave an interview to fastcolabs about how he uses Google Glass for news reporting. He said that as a reporting tool, Google Glass is the biggest revolution since the iPhone. On his Glass, he installed an Android app launcher called Launchy, then added functionalities such as live video streaming, voice translation, and remote access.

At present, Google Glass has many issues, such as bandwidth limitations and poor battery life, but it remains a very important reporting tool, especially when covering tense situations like protests. With Glass, he can focus on filming while still being aware of his surroundings, avoiding being arrested by the police or getting hurt.

For Pool, reporting on crisis situations is common. During the "Occupy Wall Street" event, he participated in online live broadcasts, using smartphones and Parrot AR.Drone aircrafts to stream the event globally.

Glass is not all-powerful; he also carries a high-definition camera with him. However, in intense environments, regular cameras can be too conspicuous, whereas Glass can take decent quality photos. "Glass allows me to stay focused—having hands-free operation is particularly important when I'm running. When faced with plastic bullet attacks, I don't want to stare at the camera; I just need to press the button to take a photo. With the first-person perspective, I can immerse myself more deeply in the moment," he said.

In using Google Glass, Pool has made many explorations. He tried converting videos into GIF images and posting them on the Google+ feed, and through combining Twitter and IFTTT, he directly posted pictures and text from Glass to Twitter. While abroad, voice translation software proved useful.

Pool particularly likes Hangouts and Google+ integrated into Glass. Through Hangouts, journalists can collaborate deeply with producers, something unimaginable on a phone. Pool said that the actual usage feels like science fiction. Automatic photo uploads are also important. Every time Pool takes a photo, it automatically uploads to Google+. For the team behind the scenes, it's like watching a live broadcast.

Pool's exploration of Google Glass has yielded excellent results. The live-streaming function of Glass offers great flexibility when broadcasting major news events, unmatched by other online services.