A nervous new doctor performing a procedure for the first time puts on a pair of Google Glass and scrubs in . From the moment she makes her first incision , a live video feed of the operation is streamed from her glasses to a surgeon outside the operating room who gives live feedback over earbuds . Training medical professionals is just one of the many workplace uses Google Glass is experimenting with . Earlier this year , Google launched its Glass at Work certification program , in which it collaborates with businesses interested in using Glass to improve productivity and save money . Ten companies have signed on so far . Google 's head-mounted computer is almost two years old , but the product is still officially in beta . Glass was originally marketed only as a consumer device , but it has had difficulty finding a niche in the consumer market , where it struggled with privacy , etiquette and safety issues . But then some of Glass ' early adopters put the wearable to work , using the device to make their jobs more efficient . Some of the most exciting potential for wearables is in the health industry , where workers need to keep their hands sterile . The small screen mounted on Glass can be used to display checklists or vital signs . Smart glasses can also let specialists consult on cases far from their hospital . This type of telemedicine has been around for years , but high costs and regulation have made widespread adoption difficult . `` Having the units like Glass or any sort of wearable first-person display that comes in at less than $ 1,500 really opens things up , '' said Dr. Warren Wiechmann , who heads up the Glass tests at the University of California at Irvine . UC Irvine is partnering with app developer Pristine , a Google Glass partner , to experiment with Glass in a number of case studies . In addition to using it as training wheels for medical students , the school is putting Glass on surgeons so they can broadcast operations live to students . Patient actors will wear Glass while medical students learn how to do a basic exam . Later , the students are shown the video to see themselves though a patient 's eyes , with the idea of improving bedside manner , empathy and listening skills . Google is being slow and deliberate with the business partners it certifies . It vets each company to see if its specific use case solves a problem in the real world , and gives them access to technical experts . For now , the company is focusing on workers who need to use their hands for their jobs , everyone from nurses and surgeons to mechanics , utility workers and chefs . Google says 80 % of the global workforce does physical work every day . `` These are people who ca n't reach into their pocket to pull out a cell phone , they ca n't type on a laptop , '' said Chris O'Neill , head of business for Google Glass . `` They have every need to access information , every need to use tech to make their jobs that much more safe and productive . '' When an expensive printer breaks down , an expert is typically sent to make repairs in person . In another Google Glass test case , HP is experimenting with keeping the experts at home . Instead , a customer puts on a pair of Glass and the repair person walks them through the necessary fixes remotely . Wearables in the workplace are still in the very early stages . Google and other similar companies are primarily focused on test cases and proving that there is a tangible benefit to the technology . Before smart glasses go mainstream , there are also a number of issues that need to be addressed , including getting old industries up to date with new technology , bringing fast Internet coverage to industrial work locations , and improving device battery life . And of course , privacy concerns wo n't disappear once a wearable is worn to work instead of to a bar . Employees might have concerns about being monitored and tracked on the job with wearables . Google has the time and resources to tackle these issues as they come up . Down the line , wearables like Glass could be commonplace on oil rigs , in the exam room , up telephone towers and even in fast food restaurants . Taco Bell is considering using Glass to train new employees on the proper cheese-to-bean ratios . Yum Brands , the parent company of Taco Bell and KFC , has worked with Google Glass app developer Interapt on test cases to see if Glass can cut down on the time it takes to train new employees . Glass uses location information and a specific training app to walk them through the steps for preparing food in real time . `` They 're not just reading a book about making tacos , they 're actually doing it . '' said Interapt CEO Ankur Gopal .
Companies are experimenting with Google Glass in the workplace . The wearables can help train employees and loop in far away experts for customer service . Comment: