Glass: A New Spin on Sharing
Words like “real-time” and “instant” are constantly thrown about as both users and developers clamor for the fastest way to communicate and share information. A new browser add-on seeks to eliminate one extra step.
Glass is a new browser extension that allows you to share experiences in real-time, and not just content. The creators call it “a virtual sheet of Glass that lies over the entire Internet that's yours to affect.” Users may share their thoughts about anything on the Web, in the moment, by literally placing notes on top of any website and share those thoughts with your friends. It’s like a virtual, somewhat unobtrusive Post-Its system for Web browsing.
After downloading the extension, clicking on the Glass icon pulls up the Panel, where you can add a new “slide” or look at your feeds or contacts. Slides are the virtual sheets of Glass that hover over the web page. Within these adjustable slides, you may post links, images and video, and then opt to share them with your contacts. Glass also boasts instant notifications along with the chat-like feel of the slides.
One clear benefit of Glass is the ability to share a thought or a link with a friend without having to leave the web page for Twitter or your email client. This could be useful for those who find the extra step of posting their thoughts elsewhere tedious. Glass could also be used for quick and easy note-taking, without the need to switch to another text editor.
Benefits aside, Glass probably won’t revolutionize the way you use the Web, but it’s a step in the right direction.