Utah becomes first state to release app for Google Glass

Utah made a little bit of history today when it announced the release of an app for Google Glass, becoming the first state in the United States to create such an application.

Called OnTime, the app is a first-of-its-kind transit-tracking app for Google Glass, which can be downloaded for free immediately from the Utah government’s Web page.

“OnTime for Glass brings Glassware to transit riders in a unique app that notifies them when their vehicle is approaching,” said David Fletcher, Utah’s chief technology officer. “OnTime for Glass is the most recent example of our long-standing innovation in web and mobile applications that help the citizens of Utah. Wearable technology is a huge opportunity to provide better online experiences for our citizens. And where better to focus than on mobile services where so much of what we do today can be augmented by technology.”

Utah, along with its Web services partner Utah Interactive, a division of NIC Inc., created the app using the Google Glass Explorer program, which is designed for developers and consumers who want to get involved early and help shape the future of Google Glass.

Key capabilities of the OnTime for Glass app include allowing the user to receive notifications for an approaching train or bus and route information, along with the ability to track public transportation vehicle locations in real-time.

Google Glass is a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display being developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project, with a mission of producing a mass-market ubiquitous computing.

Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like, hands-free format that can communicate with the Internet via voice commands.

The technology will not be made widely available to the public until later this year, but about 10,000 “explorers” received the glasses last year as part of a tryout.