PsyGlass: Capitalizing on Google Glass for naturalistic data collection

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Wearable Technology Research

Background:

• Commercial wearable technology offers new avenues for naturalistic research in cognitive and psychological sciences.
• Google Glass provides audio-visual stimuli and multimodal data tracking capabilities suitable for experimental designs.
• Integrating emerging technologies into established research methodologies is crucial for scientific advancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce PsyGlass, an open-source framework for utilizing Google Glass in psychological experiments.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of combining classic experimental psychology designs with naturalistic interactive research using wearable technology.
• To investigate the impact of dual-task demands on naturalistic human interaction.

Main Methods:

• Development and application of the PsyGlass framework for Google Glass.
• Implementation of classic experimental psychology paradigms within a naturalistic setting.
• Utilizing Google Glass's capabilities for stimulus presentation and multimodal data collection.
• Conducting a proof-of-concept study on dual-task pressures in naturalistic interaction.

Main Results:

• The PsyGlass framework successfully facilitated the integration of experimental control into naturalistic research.
• The proof-of-concept study provided preliminary evidence of dual-task effects on naturalistic interaction.
• Demonstrated the adaptability of classic experimental designs to wearable technology platforms.

Conclusions:

• PsyGlass offers a valuable tool for researchers seeking to conduct naturalistic studies with experimental rigor.
• Wearable technologies, exemplified by Google Glass and the PsyGlass framework, can significantly expand the scope of psychological research.
• Recommendations are provided for the effective use of PsyGlass and future directions for wearable technology in research.