metro >> jews in the digital age W Seeing Judaism ... Through Google Glass hile more people are begin- ning to hear about Google Glass, few have had the chance to actually try the device, which is still only a prototype and not yet available to the public for purchase. There are only about 10,000 of the devices being tested around the country, divided among 2,000 approved developers and another 8,000 lucky indi- viduals who were selected by Google to buy Glass for $1,500. The glasses function much like a SmartPhone except there is nothing to hold. Glass works off of voice commands in addition to the ability to swipe the right temple to activate this hi-tech device, which is surprisingly simple. If you want to take a photo, simply say "OK, Glass, take a picture It's easy to request and then view directions while walking around town or to get an answer to a quick question. In a previous column, I looked at some hypothetical uses for Google Glass in the field of Jewish education. Undoubtedly, some techie teachers in Jewish schools will get their hands on Google Glass and find some application for the device in the classroom. However, some educators are skeptical. Seth Dimbert, director of educational technology at the Scheck Hillel Community School in North Miami Beach, explained, "In a traditional classroom, I don't see where wearing the computer on my face is an enormous quantum leap in ease of use, efficiency and productivity over traditional computer modalities." In addition to formal Jewish education, there will be many applications for Google Glass that developers will come up with in other Jewish contexts. For example, Mike Vidikan of Innovaro in Washington, D.C., expects that Glass could significantly change how consumers shop for kosher food. "As they start inspecting a particular group of foods:' he explained, "notifica- tions could pop up with information about the kosher certifications, as well as reviews and who in their social networks recom- mends it:' New York-based Rusty Brick CEO Barry Schwartz already had the idea for his JewGlass app even before he had the chance to demo Google Glass. He now uses Glass daily and has become something of a Google Glass pioneer and evangelist on the Web. JewGlass delivers customized Jewish information such as sunset times for Shabbat, prayer times, directions to nearby synagogues and Hebrew translations for wearers of Glass. The app also will provide 20 September 19 • 2013 Jason Miller checks out the Google Glass at Campus Martius as Rabbi Yisrael Pinson observes. information related to Jewish learning, such as the Torah portion of the week or the day's Daf Yomi (daily Talmud lesson). It will also detect nearby kosher restaurants and then provide directions and a menu. Released earlier this sum- mer, JewGlass is being heralded as the first Glass application for religious Jews. "It's not a way of bringing people closer to Judaism, but a way to help people who are already observing do it more effi- ciently" Schwartz explained. Another early adopter of Google Glass is, in fact, using it to bring Jews closer to Judaism. A Chabad rabbi at Stanford University has found a way to integrate Google Glass into his tefillin stand on the university campus. As Schwartz commented on his blog, "It caught my attention because a rabbi was using Beek marketing' to attract Jewish stu- dents at Stanford back to the Jewish faith... The catch was, you would put on the tefillin and then be able to put on the Google Glass and see the blessing you would say when you place these on yourself' While the religious black boxes and leath- er straps might not have been the hook to attract students, the Google Glass certainly was. Rabbi Dov Greenberg first set up his "Google Glass Tefillin Stand" in the center of the Stanford campus this past spring as classes were coming to a close. The rabbi found great success with the new endeavor. On the first day, about 40 students put on tefillin; many more than on the typical day for Greenberg. Some Stanford students who had been chosen to demo the Glass allowed the rabbi to use it for his outreach endeavors, and the blessings panel was custom-designed by a Stanford alum who works at Apple. Downtown Detroit Greenberg's idea has caught on in communities outside of Stanford as well. When local Detroit Chabad Rabbi Yisrael Pinson heard about Greenberg's successful bridging of Google Glass with his tefillin wrapping stand, he thought it would be a great idea to rep- licate in Downtown Detroit. And that's just what Pinson did on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 16, in Campus Martius Park. Using Jake Steinerman's Google Glass, Pinson, together with another local Chabad rabbi, helped Jewish passersby utilize this device of the future to help them put on a device of the past. Through the Glass, participants could see a slide- show about tefillin, instructions on how to place them on the arm and forehead, as well as the Shema paragraphs to recite. More than 50 individuals took advantage of the opportunity to fulfill a Jewish ritual requirement and to sample the Google Glass that day. "I believe that every advance in technol- ogy can be put to good use in the realm of spirituality:' Rabbi Pinson said. "Actually, not only it can, but it should; for by using it spiritually it fulfills its highest purpose. Many times I see people who walk into morning services during the week and are not familiar with the exact way of putting on tefillin. Either they may be intimidated or embarrassed. With Google Glass they can follow exact instructions and do it like a pro." As more Jewish developers and creative individuals have the chance to try out Glass there no doubt will be more applica- tions for Jewish-related uses. And if you notice that a colleague sitting across from you in the company's conference room is wearing Google Glass and doesn't seem to be paying attention to the late afternoon meeting, don't worry ... He might just be praying. ❑ Rabbi Jason Miller is a local entrepreneur, educator and writer. He is president of Access Computer Technology in West Bloomfield. Follow him on Twitter at @RabbiJason.