Newsrooms are not eager to adopt Google Glass and use it extensively, write John Mills, of University of Central Lancashire, with Eduardo Pellanda and André Pase, both of Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul. The authors had three UK and one Brazilian media organizations trial the devices.

Two of the trial organizations did not use Google Glass at all, citing poor usability and reputational dangers as risks. For example, using the device at a technology-focused News:rewired conference would have made its wearers seem outdated, the authors were told.

Only regional journalists of the Trinity Mirror made substantive use of Google Glass, mainly by shooting video for later publication. Few novel pieces of journalism emerged from the trials, although some attempts were made. The device’s functionalities are not the sole culprit – also many external obstacles hinder the adoption of new newsmaking technologies, the authors note.

The article “New Interactions” was published by the journal Journalism Practice. It is available online (abstract free).

Picture: Google Glass V2 OOB Experience 36755 by Ted Eytan, licence CC BY-SA 2.0.