Google Glass breastfeeding app trial

Breastfeeding Support Project
Industry Mothers, Breastfeeding
Founded March 1st, 2014
Area served
 Melbourne, Australia
Members 27 total: 5 mothers, 7 project team members and 15 counsellors
Website Breastfeeding.SmallWorldSocial.com

The Breastfeeding with Google Glass app trial began in Australia on March 1, 2014, utilizing a wearable technology computing device, Google Glass, to provide live video counseling and an informational portal to support women with breastfeeding.[1]

Background

The Google Glass breastfeeding trial program was developed in collaboration with the Australian Breastfeeding Association[2] and Melbourne technology company, Small World Social. It was the world’s first hands-free program on breastfeeding basics and tutorials using a wearable computing device.[3]

The trial lasted 7 weeks, commencing on March 1 and ending on April 13, 2014.[4] There were five mothers and their newborn babies in the trial,[5] fifteen volunteer counselors from the Australian Breastfeeding Association, and seven project team members from Small World Social.[5][6] The counselors were located in five States across Australia.[7] The counselors were certified in lactation consultation,[8] and located as far from the mothers as Perth, Western Australia, 3,500 kilometers away.[7] While physically distant from the mothers, the counselors provided support using video calls with Google Glass, live on demand.[9]

Impact

According to media commentary, the breastfeeding project demonstrated the potential of wearable devices to provide ways for communities to deliver health and family support services across vast distances.[10][11] The demonstrated positive uses of such devices contrasted widespread criticism over privacy concerns which such devices.[10] An article in the motherboard magazine Vice stated, "Google Glass, whether warranted or not, endures its fair share of criticism, largely because a lot of initial use cases have been, well, kinda creepy. So it's great to instead see Glass being used for uniquely positive ends, as it is with the Australian Breastfeeding Association's Breastfeeding Support Project."[10] Other journalists and commentators also called the trial beneficial[12] and an innovative application wearable technologies.[13] Australian Broadcasting Corporation journalist/presenter Penny Johnston of the Babytalk radio program remarked, "The Google Glass if you think about it, is perfect to coach someone in breast feeding: if you are holding or feeding a baby, imagine a camera mounted on your glasses and look down. There you have the world's best view for checking the baby's latch and your breastfeeding technique!"[13]

Participants

The trial participants found the technology approach helpful.[14] Sarah-Jane Bailey, one of the mothers involved in the project, was eager to participate with her son Patrick, after struggling to breastfeed her previous children. "Whenever I was having any issues with my breastfeeding, I was able to video call a breastfeeding counselor who could then see what I was seeing and help me correct his latch," Sarah-Jane Bailey said "being able to call and have that support whenever I needed it was invaluable."[15]

Mothers Project Team[16]
1. Sarah-Jane Bailey[3] 1. Madeline Sands – Project Leader[17]
2. Lauren Clarke[18] 2. Kim Jensen – Interactional Designer & Videographer
3. Cath Sharples[19] 3. Ethan Fan – Engineer
4. Emma Crowder [17] 4. Elloise Foster – Communications & Marketing
5. Laura Loricco [20] 5. Lucy Colman – Research and Business Analyst
6. Tony Kerr – Hardware
7. Andrew Hibberd – Head of Film – Motion Graphics

The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) counselors were located in five states across Australia.

Recognition

In May 2014, Small World Social and the ABA won the Gold Questar Award in the Emerging Media: App section, for the Breastfeeding with Google Glass App.[21] In June 2014, Small World Social's Breastfeeding Support Project was awarded the Questar Best of Category Grand Prize For Emerging Media, which is given to the top 5% of entries.[22]

Future

The ABA is optimistic about the future of wearable technologies supporting their work. Small World Social is working with the organization on a plan to launch a broader program of support during 2014.[23] Small World Social is planning to commence a trial in the USA in June 2014.[24]

References

  1. ↑ "Google Glass connects breastfeeding moms with lactation help". Inquisitr. Inquisitr. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Grumet, Jamie Lynne. "Google Glass App Helps Moms Breastfeed". I am not the babysitter. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 Shanahan, Brittany (7 April 2014). "Google Glass app helps Pakenham mum get breastfeeding right". Berwick Leader. Blackburn, Victoria: Herald Sun Leader Community Newspapers. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Anker, Jonathan. "Google Glass can help you breastfeed". HLNTV. The Cable News Network. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  5. 1 2 Johnston, Penny (17 April 2014). "Breastfeeding help gets hi-tech". 774 ABC Melbourne. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  6. ↑ Battersby, Lucy (19 January 2014). "Breastfeeding mothers get help from Google Glass and Small World". The Age. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Reaching Australia Far and Wide with the ABA Counselors". Small World Social. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Breastfeeding and Google Glass application trial". Australian Breastfeeding Association. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  9. ↑ Morley, Bern. "'Virtual Breastfeeding': Could it ever work?". Mamamia. Mamamia. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 "Turns Out Google Glass Is Good for Breastfeeding". Motherboard Vice Media Inc. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  11. ↑ Johnson, Diana. "How Google is helping moms breastfeed". SheKnowsParenting. SheKnows LLC. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  12. ↑ Rose, Michelle. "Google Glass – breastfeeding help just a click away". Babyology. Babyology. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Breastfeeding help gets hi-tech". 774 ABC Melbourne. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  14. ↑ Raphael, Lisa (23 April 2014). "Why Google Glass May Be a New Mom's New BFF". BRIT + CO. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  15. ↑ Johnson, Diana (25 April 2014). "A FUTURISTIC LOOK AT BREASTFEEDING". She Knows Parenting. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Breastfeeding Support Project". Small World Social. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  17. 1 2 Millen, Virginia (21 April 2014). "Melbourne mums help in world-first breastfeeding app". The Weekly Review (Melbourne Times). MetroMedia Publishing. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  18. ↑ Gliddon, Greggory (15 April 2014). "Google Glass app for better breastfeeding". Progress Leader. p. 13.
  19. ↑ Bailey, Megan (15 April 2014). "TITLE". Diamond Valley Leader.
  20. ↑ Squires, Maddy (14 April 2014). "Google glasses give unique view of breastfeeding". Geelong advertiser. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "2014 Emerging Media App Gold Questar Awards". MercommAwards. MerComm, Inc. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  22. ↑ "Questar 2014 Grand Award Winners". The International Awards for Video Communications. MerComm Awards. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  23. ↑ Collman, Ashley (24 April 2014). "New Google Glass app helps mothers learn how to breastfeed their babies with on-screen guidance from counselors". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  24. ↑ Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (4 April 2014). "Google Glass app helps breastfeeding: developer Small World seeking up to $35m in funding". BRW. Fairfax Media Publications. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
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