BMW To Improve Vehicle Quality By Using Google Glass

We've heard so much about wearable technology becoming a hindrance when you drive a car as it may prove to be a distraction. However, BMW has found a different way of looking at their cars. The company has started a pilot project which aims to determine whether or not wearable technology can improve the quality of their cars.

The project is currently underway at the company's Spartanburg plant and calls for employees to wear Google Glass so they can record tests in pre-series vehicles. BMW says this could be helpful as photos and videos can provide a better, faster and clearer way to analyze and correct problems and potential deviations.

According to the people at BMW, "Previously, potential issues identified in pre-series vehicles were documented in writing. Often enough, the problem description was too vague, thus prompting further questions from the responsible specialist department in about one in four cases."

With the use of Google Glass, BMW hopes to eliminate such issues with photo and video documentation. The company is also planning to add a video call feature to Glass so potential questions can be discussed right there and then.

Such technology could be useful in conducting quality assurance tests during final assembly. As BMW points out, employees have to conduct 10-25 individual tests and then go back and forth between the car and a terminal to record their results. However, with Google Glass, employees could conduct tests and sign them off on them with voice commands without ever having to leave the vehicle.