Augmented reality could power a brighter future for the developing world

As technology advances, it also becomes cheaper. Back in 1972, an HP desktop computer sold for a whopping $95,000 USD. More recently, DVD players could be purchased for around $1,000 in the early 2000s.

The same can be said for smartphones. In 2011, just 35% of Americans owned these handy devices. Fast forward 10 years and 85% of US citizens are hooked on these handheld personal computers.

As access to the digital realm increases, so too has the average quality of life. Less people live in extreme poverty while life expectancy rates continue to trend upward.

Over this timespan, more people have gained access to education and healthcare.

Smart Glasses could improve global healthcare and education averages by tapping into the power of AR (Augmented Reality). In particular, healthcare professionals will be able to diagnose and treat patients with greater speed and efficiency. 

It’s unfair to say that greater internet access is solely responsible, but the digital world has given more people jobs, optimized food supply chains and brought down the price of goods.

Could Smart Glasses take such progress to the next level?

READ: Is this the Brain Trainer of Tomorrow?

How Smart Glasses could improve global access to education and healthcare:

A smarter you

The average person uses their smartphone over three and half hours daily. However, the act of taking your eyes off a task to look up something on a handheld device isn’t ideal. Hands-free and voice-controlled, Smart Glasses eliminate this physical barrier, giving us immediate access to all the benefits of the net. The potential for accelerated learning is exciting.

Next gen healthcare

Hospitals today are already equipping doctors with Smart Glasses. The pandemic made the technology essential, as physical distancing protocols kept patients at home. Wearable displays allow medical experts to diagnose patients from anywhere in the world. A friend or caregiver could stream their first-person view to off-site help - meaning the world’s best doctors could be summoned at a moment’s notice.

Education, supercharged

An industry that has struggled to modernize was flipped upside-down by the pandemic. Students attended class in their bedrooms, behind computer monitors. Be it remote or in-person, Smart Glasses could revolutionize lesson plans. Teachers could receive live profiles of any student with a simple glance, helping them tailor their teaching to student needs. AR (Augmented Reality) could be used to gamify the learning experience, helping students actively engage in lessons - even when teachers are miles away.

Moving all of humanity forward

If the benefits are restricted to the wealthy, a technological breakthrough isn’t very meaningful.

The internet has leveled the global playing field when it comes to accessing technology. First with personal computers, then smartphones - and eventually Smart Glasses - the digital world continues to improve the average quality of life.

Wearable displays could bring more people closer to high quality education and healthcare.

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