How a Calgary business is using smart glasses to make unique POV cooking tutorials
A Calgary business has found a unique way to use smart glasses as a tool to boost its presence on social media.
Smart glasses are becoming more and more common, which prompted Gordon Fontaine, the owner of Soffritto Italian Market, to embrace them in his business.
He uses the high-tech frames to create tutorials showing off how he makes various classic dishes – like a margherita pizza.
"All of these motions are kind of hard to explain, which is why video makes a lot of sense for this,” Fontaine explained in one of the tutorials while making a pizza crust.
The glasses give the viewer the point of view of the person wearing them. While the tutorials can be used to train new staff, they're also a hit online.
"Social media was the big thing. In the food business, we have to work with our hands, and we have to demonstrate and show how things are going, so holding a phone and trying to get it in is kind of awkward, so I thought the best opportunity was the glasses,” Fontaine said.
Smart glasses have been around for years but have seen a surge in popularity as major brands like Meta, Snap Inc. and Amazon have released models.
The frames carry a range of features depending on the brand, with most costing $200-$600.
Almost all can take photos, play music and take calls, while some even have artificial intelligence built-in, allowing them to answer questions or even identify famous landmarks.
"It's like the Model T Ford days of wearables, and smart glasses are no exception. It's really early. You know you have to be kind to be kind of geeky to invest and wear one of these smart glasses,” said tech expert Marc Saltzman.
As the tech works to carve out its place in the market, there are still some kinks. Battery life is a challenge, lasting only a few hours on most pairs.
There are also privacy concerns around the collection of personal data and the ability to record or take photos covertly.
Privacy lawyer David Fraser says those concerns are valid, but they’re similar to ones shared when smartphones first became the norm.
"We have seen over time that technology has been the focus of a lot of concern related to privacy, and rightly so, but in some instances, it's overblown,” Fraser noted.
Despite the issues, the tech is moving forward fast.
Developers are delving further into the glasses' use of AI and also exploring augmented reality – where digital content is overlayed onto real life.
"I think eventually, we are going to see virtual reality headsets like these get smaller and smaller into a pair of eyeglasses and maybe even contacts and maybe even an operation shortly thereafter,” said Saltzman.
For now, smart glasses users like Fontaine are just happy taking a call.
"Honestly, the phone call side of it and/or music is lovely. Again, (my) hands might be dirty, I might be stirring something, I just hit the side of the glasses. I have great sound, and the person on the other side hears great sound as well,” said Fontaine.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.