Last week, Google finally made the Glass API for Google Glass open to all developers. Previously, the API was only available to developers that actually shelled out the $1500 to own the Google Glass hardware and were added to a whitelist of approved owners. Now Google doesn’t care if you have the software or not. TechCrunch breaks down the methods for developers to write software for Google Glass.
“There are currently two ways of writing applications for Glass. One is through the Mirror API, which allows developers to asynchronously push and pull information to and from the device and then display it in a card-like interface. This works great for news apps, social networking services and other services that can use Glass to display status updates and similar information.”
“For apps that need real-time access to Glass’ hardware and want to display information outside of the card interface, Google launched the Glass Development Kit (GDK) last week. This opens up a whole new range of possibilities for developers, but while anybody with a bit of web development experience can write apps for the Mirror API, writing GDK apps is a bit more involved.”
This move by Google is likely to encourage developers to start playing around without the expensive buy-in. Still, at the moment there is still no way to test Glass apps without the hardware, but Android developers can actually get started by porting their apps to Glass and working on adapting the interface. While this is a small step forward for the Glass platform, one has to wonder if the whole project is an effort of futility. Pundits are still asking the same questions since the introduction, questions that still need answers. Here is an article from FastCompany from April 2012 that outlines the toughest obstacles to Google Glass adoption. What is significant is that over a year later, none of these questions have been answered and are just as relevant now. Since shortly after its introduction, Glass has been met with vehement opposition from the public, with some people acting violently toward anyone wearing anything remotely similar to Google Glass hardware. Are we looking at a future with tech-related hate crimes? I hope Google has a really good insurance policy.