Tom Schooley, VP / Digital Director, took Google Glass duck hunting on a cold, early morning in an undisclosed MN location. He was excited to test out the innovative technology but a little nervous wearing a $1500 irreplaceable piece of equipment in a dark duck pond. Not only did Tom have some great ideas about how Google Glass could be useful during hunting, he also shared his perspectives on Google Glass’s potential implications for “quiet sports.” Check it out:
So Tom, tell us about your duck hunting trip. What were your initial impressions of Glass?
I hated having that thing on my head! Maybe that’s too strong of a statement, but I felt like it was an unsafe distraction. Imagine yourself in a dark, half frozen pond, in a canoe with guns and an excited dog – all with the welcoming light of Glass shining in your right eye. It was next to impossible to adjust to the darkness and keep track of all of the activity around me.
I really wanted to be able to use Glass to help with way-finding, and even, in my dreams, a little night vision. Some day that technology will be there - just not yet.
Despite the drawback, do you think there are any ways Glass could be helpful while hunting?
Yes, definitely. I think Glass could be helpful from a purely sport and acquisition perspective. Glass would be really helpful with preparation the night before. For instance, there are a lot of items to remember when you’re packing to go hunting. It would be sweet if Glass could scan your items and take inventory of your stuff. That way, Glass could make sure you’re not forgetting anything important.
It could also help you find locations on the lake or pond. Using Google Maps the night before, you could pinpoint locations on the map that would be ideal spots to set up your blind. The next morning, Glass could direct you where to go, so you’re not messing around and getting lost in the dark.
What about when you're actually hunting?
Angle, distance, and speed are all really important when it comes to shooting. Google Glass has an advantage over the human eye when analyzing these things. Glass could analyze groups of inbound ducks, offer shooting tips and recommend on the best target or when to shoot. You could use this as you practice as well – while shooting sporting clays Glass could offer “lessons” that would improve things like site picture, lead, follow through, loads, etc. helping to improve accuracy and effectiveness.
During the hunt, Google Glass could also track downed birds. Tracking birds can be difficult when you don’t have a good hunting dog, so this could be really useful for those hunting alone. It could mark downed birds and then highlight where they are during the retrieve.
As PK's Digital Director, what are the implications you think Glass will have on outdoor sports?
While I think Glass could be useful from an end-result perspective, even as a dyed-in-the-wool digital guy, I think it could detract from the journey and purist essence of outdoor sports. What I love most about hunting is the quiet, reflective, and almost spiritual time I get to spend in nature. Glass in its current form is intrusive, and I think that could take away from that experience. Also, although the educational potential of Glass opens the sports up to more people, it also removes the need to master necessary skills, which could lead to disaster should the technology fail. As with any new technology we need to make sure that we are using it to enhance and improve but not to replace the real physical and emotional experiences.
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