Page 257 - AC/E's Digital Culture Annual Report 2015

AC/E Digital Culture Annual Report 2015257in line with research on virtual reality, still a far cry from the Google Glass model.As we can see, the research phases leading to Google Glass, although a paradigm of the putting into practice of “wearable” in culture institutions, are a development of what had already been envisaged. This is proven by the words of Babak Parviz, the person in charge of the Google Glass project and a former expert in bionanotechnology at Washington University, who stated that the aim of what was still Google Project Glass wasto create a device that allowed people to connect with others through images and videos; a device with which to see the world through their eyes that enabled them to share this point of view,and to create a technology whereby people have instant access to the information.105One of the first companies to devote part of its efforts to providing Google Glass applications for museums was GuidiGO,106 which a few months ago announced its association with museums all over the world to provide virtual tours optimised for Google Glass.With this app, museum visitors wearing Google Glass can begin their visit and the application, which uses image recognition to automatically identify the works of art and other objects on display, will rapidly provide all the relevant information about what the user is looking at.It also geolocates visitors and can guide them around the museum’s rooms and exterior, as well as suggesting a route using interactive maps.In Spain technology firms are developing spe- cific apps for using Google Glass in museums. The pilot project being developed by the Museo de Bellas Artes de Asturias together withthe Asturian companies Malvado Sound Lab S.L., NeoSenTec and Fernando Milla made the national news in October 2014. Over a two-month period, this device can be used to visit the institution’s installations and enjoy an experience that combines the benefits of tech- nology and art.The application, called GuiARt,107 has used iBeacons to be able to dispense with Wi-Fi connections inside the museum. Thirty-five beacons have been installed for this purpose that offer good positioning results. GuiARt provides users with a large amount of multimedia con- tent, augmented reality and 3D technology. It allows them to take photos and record videos, comment, recommend and share the whole experience on their social networks.Another approach involving the use of Google Glass was announced by the Museo Egizio in Turin,108 an institution that will be the first in the whole world to experiment with Google- Glass4Lis, a Google Glass application that provides deaf visitors with a customisedGoogle Glass in museums with GuidiGo3. Technology associated with the actual visit