The Recon Jet is one of the head-mounted computing platforms that continues to find success in the corporate market, even though Google Glass got a lot of media attention for its failure to find an initial market. We’ve covered the Jet in the past, but it is one of several devices that combines computing power and a head-mounted display in a smart-glasses package.
This week at Mobile Word Congress in Barcelona, Spain, the company has announced a partnership with APX Labs to create an enterprise-level system for technology workers. Using the APX Skylight software platform, technicians can access real time measurements of devices in the field, reference documents and videos, and even collaborate with colleagues in other locations. The hands-free format makes it easier for them to take the information the need wherever they go, and consult it as needed without having to put down their tools.
These corporate applications can save a lot of time and money for businesses. It means that the most-experienced experts can remain in a central location, and support the work of many more technicians in the field, making more efficient use of the time for all personnel involved. Platforms like the Recon Jet have broad applications in healthcare, and it’s only a matter of time before we see them applied there as well. For example, imagine a nurse on duty in an Intensive Care Unit. If a patient has a critical problem, the glasses could inform the nearest workers which room to go to, and display the patient’s vitals, history, and other essential information without them having to look to some screen or other paper record. This could reduce response time and lead to better outcomes at lower cost. As the industrial applications build the demand, it will help lower the per-unit production costs of the devices, making them more affordable for more settings.
