Creating Google Glass

We're not talking about making glass from sodium and lime, Im talking Google Glass. I am going to try to create my own version of Google Glass as a prototype and then see if it is feasable to make an open source glass alternative.

The first issue I see with Google Glass is one of availablity. It seems to apply for the developer scheme, you are required to be a US Citizen and have $1500 lying around. Now for some people, that's not an issue and for corporate developers - just an expense form away. However, where does this leave our open source developers, smaller developers and those outside the US.

Obviously I'm not setting out to clone Google Glass but rather make something that does a similar job and does it in a fashion that will allow other developers who do not meet the critera to develop with a glass like device. This is further pushed with Google's "Open Patent Non-Assertion Pledge" which shows they will not sue unless attacked first.

So with that I set out to make a Glass alternative and allow international developers to get in on the action and take it in diferections no-one thought coming.

The Customer is Always Right...

The customer is always right...

It is also worth considering however that their feedback is just an opinion and should be treated as such. If they knew as much as to make informed decisions, why are they not working in that field themselves and why would they hire someone else to do it.

This is to not to say "ignore your client", more a reminder that their feedback is an opinion and should not change decisions just to keep them quiet. It is a professional's role to consult on issues and feedback like design changes to make sure the end product is the best it can be and advise clients against bad decisions. Your professional opinion counts too.

Opinions are like nipples, everybody has one.

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Live Thoughts

Having always been a fan of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy radio series whenever my dad played it growing up, I was fortunate to be given a ticket to go see the radio cast perform live in Brighton this evening.

It is one of the best things I've seen on stage so far and great to see the faces of the people behind the voices. 

If you get the chance to head to one of their performanes, I highly recommend it and you can find the tour website at http://www.hitchhikerslive.com

Virgin Trains WiFi Review and Speed Test

Virgin Trains have been long boasting about their on-train WiFi but what is it actually like? Is it worth shelling out the £4 an hour for the service on a line that has little phone signal?

Technology

The technology behind it is 3G and WiMAX according to the supplier, Nomad Digital, which allows it to handle remote geographic areas. 

When you cannot get access to 3G signal, WiMAX is used and vice versa. Sadly it seems the 3G equipment used is not sensitive and is a low speed connection.

On arrival at a Carlisle station, the WiFi was stable enough to conduct a quick speed test:
Virgin Train WiFi Performance in Carlisle

Pricing

The pricing is at the expensive end of paid WiFi services which are becoming increasingly rare around the UK with the widespread use of roaming agreements being included with a large percentage of home and mobile phones.

Virgin Trains onboard pricing structure

The system also does not support any roaming partners aside from iPass which is diappointing.

Verdict

Its brilliant in concept but in reality, it lacks reliability and speed to be considered a real solution and seeing as Virgin Media have been giving away free wifi on the tube, it's a shame they cannot take any of that technology forward onto their own branded trains. I would recommend that you save your money and get a mobile broadband connection and a good device like the Huawei E586.

Inspiration

At this months Tomorrows web, I met with loads of great individuals from different places all with one thing in common, they aspire to get their product or company into the mainstream and get funded. Now sadly the rate of funding is 2 for every 100 companies that apply to these schemes. Yet people some people see funding as the only route to market but it is proven you can start a company from nothing and get it profitable. I spoke to a few individuals who have got funding and while I respect that greatly, those who have done it all themselves I cannot stress how amazing that is.

So to anyone who is in the hopes of getting funding, do it yourself - see how it goes. If you succeed, you stand an even better chance of getting funded because you have proved without funding you can do it, so imagine what you could do with it.