Google Glass changes Aleksandra’s life

To many, Google Glass seems like an unnecessary, expensive, odd-looking smartphone accessory. To Aleksandra Blaszczuk, Google’s connected glasses are none of those things.

A 26-year-old quadriplegic, Aleksandra needs assistance with bathing, eating, and countless other activities, but the new gadget has allowed her to do things on her own that she didn’t think would be possible again.

Before a car accident a year and a half ago, Aleksandra used her smartphone just like most 20-somethings. She took photos and immediately shared them; she used a maps app to get around in New York City; she quickly Googled things to keep up with conversation. But when she became paralysed from the chest down, her life changed.

“Lots of people with disabilities don’t have an opportunity to share their stories,” she said. “I couldn’t take pictures before — I would have to ask someone to do that for me. With Glass, there is a whole new sense of self expression — I’ve been taking pictures and taking video.”

She is able to tilt her head back to wake the glasses’ small screen and then simply use her voice to control them. “OK, Glass, take a picture,” she can say to snap a photo, and then she can share it to her Google Plus profile — just with voice commands. Beyond just taking photos and videos, Aleksandra has been using the glasses, which pair with a phone for internet connectivity, to make phone calls, get directions, and search Google.

“Before I used a Bluetooth headset — like a 90s Bluetooth headset — but I’d have to have my assistant put it on,” said Aleksandra, who studies law at Columbia University. “The difference [with Glass] is actually a really big deal because you can always have it on.”

Despite being able to use her iPad and iPhone with voice control software, she explained how useful it is to be able to search with her voice and see the results in front of her right eye: “My friends are always looking up things on their cellphones. I can do that now too really quickly.

“With Glass you can search Google by simply saying: ‘OK Glass, what is the weather going to be like tomorrow?’ ”

Still, all of these small tasks have made Aleksandra feel more independent and more capable without leaning on her caregiver for help.

Since getting the glasses about three weeks ago, she went on a camping trip with her friends, the first trip since her accident that she has taken without her assistant.

Google documented the trip in a video to show off the impact the glasses have had. Aleksandra paid $1,500 (€1,127) for her glasses.