Google Glass

During the pilot project at the two departments, the Google Glass was used 23 times, 12 of which were as tests without patients and 11 with the involvement of patients.

The glasses’ “see what I see”/live streaming function was used to provide doctors and nurses with  instruction from co-workers who were not present but were able to view the situation through a computer. If a midwife at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics contacted a doctor for instruction, the glasses could give the doctor an image to supplement the oral description from the midwife.

Google Glass was on loan for the project at OUH through the firm Accenture, which made a great video illustrating how the glasses were tested at the two departments.

AIM

The aim of the project was to try Google Glass as a tool in clinical work situations at Odense University Hospital. The project was to study if it is technically possible to use the the glasses in combination with the clinical systems of the hospital.

In addition, the project was to clarify if Google Glass or similar technologies can be a useful tool at the clinical departments of the hospital.

RESULTS

The pilot project found positive indications of using the Google Glass at the hospital. The glasses were assessed by the staff as providing an enhancement of quality as well as saving time.

However, a number of technical challenges also emerged, e.g. battery life, the use of one’s own glasses in combination with Google Glass, and data security of the data transmitted via the technology. These challenges were also singled out by previous users of the technology, and therefore Google removed the glasses from the market in 2015 while working on a new version of the technology.

The examined functions of the glasses did however also prove to be beneficial to such a degree that OUH is to follow the development of this sort of wearable and handsfree-operational technology, which can be connected to the Internet and the hospital’s clinical systems.

EXTERNAL FUNDING

The Google Glass project was carried out with means from the Patient@Home project, which OUH was a partner in.