Google Cloud has announced the integration of Google Meet and Google Glass that allows remote teams to see through the eyes of workers in the field.
The integration is available now in beta on the Enterprise Edition 2 of Google Glass, but only for customers with a paid Workspace account.
Workspace is Google's new desktop UI that allows users to access G Suite apps, such as Gmail, Drive and Meet, via one platform, rather than endlessly cycling between each one.
This now includes an integration with Google Glass and Meet to provide more support for those still working on-site. The cloud giant has tested its Meet for Glass app in data centres, given the reliance on on-site maintenance, allowing for repair work to be carried out by a single on-site engineer with the support of others watching virtually.
With the Meet for Glass integration, users can connect with a remote team and diagnose issues, review physical equipment, and potentially train employees without being in the same place. Google suggests this is far easier than simply connecting via a laptop or "bulky" webcam as it lets technicians work hands-free and gives the remote participants an optimal view of any situation.
"Our mission has never been more critical than in today's remote work environment," the company said in a blog post. "Many businesses are adapting to new policies and procedures that keep workers safe. As a result, on-site essential workers - those whose roles cannot be carried out remotely – have had to pivot the ways they work and collaborate."
This is an idea that Microsoft worked on with the very first HoloLens demos in 2015, using the Skype app to video call a walkthrough for fixing a light switch. The Skype for HoloLens app has since been discontinued and the company uses its newer Dynamics 365 Remote Assist program instead.
