Value of visual data

Evaluating the applicability of Google Glass for insurance means recognizing the value visual data, such as photographs and video, can bring to the claim documentation and underwriting process. However, Google Glass in particular, and smart glasses overall, are of sound concept and excellent design, but the technology is not quite mature, especially when considered for business use. For example:

1. Battery life. In streaming mode, internal battery life for the Google Glass is only 10 to 15 minutes. Though an external battery pack can be connected to the device, the battery pack itself requires a longer charge, forcing the user to constantly plug it in.
2. Processing power. The tradeoff between battery life and processor speed is one many manufacturers of mobile devices struggle to overcome, and, in the end, processing power is typically sacrificed in favor of battery life. It's the ultimate paradigm of computing power and mobility, which is unlikely to be resolved easily given the distinct design of the wearable device.
3. Overheating. The curse of using a weaker processor is that the device is unable to operate for prolonged periods of time without overheating, especially when performing strenuous operations, such as streaming of live video.
4. Smartphone integration. As with other smart glasses, Google Glass does not operate by itself. It needs a mobile device for integration to connect to the internet and exchange information.
5. Heads up display. The heads up display inherent to Google Glass and other smart glasses is genius in terms of design, however, it is very limiting and difficult to understand when it comes to confirming video or image capture, and the use of telestration (drawing on live video) is impractical and frustrating.
6. Prohibitive cost. At $1,500, Google Glass is an expensive investment, especially as cheaper alternatives have flooded the market. However, the devices all run unique and proprietary APIs, requiring long term commitment to selected hardware and high cost of support and replacement.
7. Platform dependency. Google Glass, as a hardware, is ultimately just a device. Meaning, to get the full benefit of the capabilities of Glass, an insurer needs a powerful platform which supports the business needs. This means insurers must have a technology platform which incorporates collaboration, video capture, claim or underwriting artifact documentation, media management, storage, retrieval, backup, security, scalability, audit reporting and many more functions.

Next page: How much should the insurance industry rely on smart glasses?

Special Reports /

Are insurers viewing technology through rose-colored Google Glasses?

Related Stories

Recommended For You