Microsoft officially unveiled Smart Glass today, an app that allows content on the XBOX 360 to be streamed to a number of portable devices. Additionally, Smart Glass allows additional content to be displayed on your device alongside whatever you are watching on TV.
“In the example Microsoft showed, you could be watching an episode of Game of Thrones…and get a full map of the kingdom on your tablet.”
This is a fantastic feature that will rarely be implemented. I have a difficult time imagining a scenario where any studio wants to spend a significant amount of time developing content for Smart Glass. Unless Microsoft has a way to compensate content makers for Smart Glass implementation (and they just might) there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of incentive to take the extra time and spend the extra resources to produce content for Smart Glass.
Studios may not want to implement this feature in their movies and TV shows, but I can imagine million of fans who would. The possibilities of fan-made content on Smart Glass are many and it makes me somewhat giddy. Custom commentary, real-time maps, the Walking Dead with the original comic panels popping up on your tablet when they come on screen? Those are just the examples I can think of right now.
Microsoft, I beg of you: if it is at all within your not-insignificant powers, open up Smart Glass. You’ve done a great job letting hackers tinker with the Kinect. I can guarantee some fantastic returns if you do the same with Smart Glass.
