Stepping away from its ongoing emissions scandal for a moment, Volkswagen recently revealed it will be equipping some of its plant workers with what it calls 3D smart glasses.
The German automaker said the rollout comes after a successful three-month pilot program. At its Wolfsburg plant, Volkswagen said plant logistics personnel will use the glasses to assist in order picking, offering up a number of benefits.
Workers will automatically receive all of the information they need directly in their field of vision such as storage locations or part numbers. Voice control will further facilitate productivity, allowing staffers to keep both hands free while working. What's more, the camera in the glasses will be used as a barcode reader. When a worker selects the correct part, the barcode will be shown in green; if not, it'll be illuminated red.
Interestingly enough, Volkswagen said use of the glasses is voluntary. Employees that show concern are gradually being introduced to the technology as to not overload them. At present, the company said it has 30 employees in various areas including windshields and driveshafts using the glasses.
While Volkswagen never specifically mentions Google Glass, that's exactly what the "3D smart glasses" appear to be. The branding on the side of the wearable reads "Ubimax," a European wearable computing solutions company that lists Google as one of its partners. If Google is indeed sourcing the headwear, it would certainly fit into the narrative that we've been hearing regarding the reboot of Google Glass as a workplace tool under Tony Fadell.