Google Glass: A brief encounter

I spent Saturday at the iPads in Learning mini conference. It was a fantastic time for several reasons. However, quite possibly the highlight of my day was that I got to use Google Glass. Two colleagues have pairs of Google Glass and we happen to be sitting in a German/Spanish room when the one I was talking to exclaimed about it. She realized she could use her Google Glass to translate the posters on the wall. After freaking out (understandably) she said I had to give it a try and of course I didn't say no. It was crazy. The nerd in me has been excited to try this new and unique device. Part of me thinks maybe they're douchey and pretentious. The actual experience though was way cool.

It took a minute to get acclimated. April was trying to give me directions which I followed poorly. The side of the glass is like a track pad. You begin with the "Ok Google" screen which allows you to regally command Google after you get its attention with the phrase. The other option is scrolling with your finger. It allows you to swipe your way through recent photos, emails, reminders, and the ever popular, extreme weather advisory. Among those options is the translate feature. If you ever used Word Lens on the iPhone, it's that. So it doesn't just subtitle what you're looking at, it actually uses augmented reality to change what's written.

By the way, I'm a pretty reserved person for a lot of things especially excitement over something I should be excited about. I like to play it off like I don't care and freak out like a 12 year old at a One Direction concert on the inside. I couldn't contain my excitement on this one. Instantly I wanted my picture taken and my voice went up five octaves.

Overall, I give the experience a pretty freaking cool. Thanks, April!

Let's stop being app snobs

evernote.com

I've done it. You've probably done it. One specific friend of mine does it all the time. It starts innocently enough. You're in a conversation with a friend about keeping up on RSS feeds or blogs or the latest app you're in love with. Your friend says, "Oh yeah, I use [fill in the app YOU used six months ago and are SO over]." Without knowing it you roll your eyes and let a disgusted puff of air escape your lips. You have just become an app snob.

I think this goes along with what fellow ADE, Kyle Pearce mentioned a while back about how we push our colleagues out of the comfort zone and then chastise them when they aren't using what we're using or if we feel they're using something passé or subpar. 

An Entry Point
Yes, responders are not the most modern tech. An iPad or any web-equipped device can do so much more than most responders can. However, sometimes, that's what a teacher can see themselves using or that's the only thing available. If a teacher says, "I want to use responders!" You responding with, "Really?" and an expression akin to smelling rotten eggs, will kill that teacher's enthusiasm guaranteed.

Amazon Wasn't Built In a Day
Do you think drug dealers tell a prospective customer, "Oh....you want crack? Meth is so much better." No...well they might. I don't know drug dealers. Essentially, if you're trying to get your colleagues or teachers to use technology, let them suggest what they'd what to use and then build from there. Start with responders and then have them try out something like Socrative or Infuse Learning. Start with PDFs on an iPad and then move to Google Docs. Use Google Docs as a substitute for Office and then show the teacher how to make a survey. Give that teacher Springpad links enough and that teacher will 1) become more comfortable with the idea and 2) maybe even ask how to create one. Augmented reality might have made QR codes obsolete, but QR codes might be more approachable and that's ok.

You Say Potato, I Say French Fries
Also, keep in mind that people have different needs and like different things. I might be a fan of Diigo for keeping track of my links while you might prefer Delicious. Some people are more visual. Some people are minimalists. Respect that the other person just might like something different and don't be a jerk about it.