Google Glass boasts several real world applications. It can be used to take scenic photographs, to access apps via voice command, and can even be put to use in hospitals and similar healthcare facilities. One Massachusetts historian, however, will soon be using Google Glass to help sift through almost 400 years of New England history.
Liz Covart, a Boston-born writer and historian with a passion for knowledge of the colonial and Revolutionary eras, has a penchant for making history accessible to the masses. She maintains a blog she describes as practical, in that it offers a healthy dose of writing and technology for those without admittance to major databases we often find in colleges and universities.
By harnessing the power of Glass, Covart, in tandem with the Massachusetts Historical Society, hopes to take this idea of accessibility to the next level.
“I frequent the Mass. Historical’s seminars and am friendly with the archivists and librarians,” Covart told me over a cup of coffee. “I knew from interacting with them that they’d be receptive. There’s also the glamour that they’re the first historical society in the country. People are always talking about Glass for things like medicine, but aren’t talking about practical applications in the humanities.”
But her interest in Glass is admittedly short-lived. It wasn’t until a few months back that her partner landed a job with the search engine giant and took an immediate liking to the company’s next-generation eyewear. After investing in a pair of high-tech specs, Covart realized the potential impact it could have on her work.
“I researched Glass and found it could take pictures and videos – you can wink for photos and have video live streams of what you’re looking at,” continued Covart. “Soon there’ll even be an app so that you can read a document in a foreign language and it’ll translate to your native language.”
Growing up in New Hampshire, Covart was exposed to early American history for much of her life. It wasn’t until she went to graduate school at the University of California Davis that she realized many people not from New England often lump New York into the region.
Her dissertation, which she’s currently revising into a book, is centered around the migration to, and settlement of, Albany. New York’s capital bears a striking cultural resemblance to New England in general, but the formation of its own municipal identity is equally as stark.
Armed with years of accrued knowledge and a fresh outsider’s perspective of New England culture, Covart’s research has been partly focused on examining these regional identities.
“It’s probably why I’m obsessed with the mid-to-late 18th century and 19th century revolutionary era,” she posited. “Seven-hundred-thousand to 800 thousand New Englanders migrated to New York. Culturally, New York is a lot like New England, at least in its upstate regions.”
That concept of identity, Covart explained, stems from various mindsets and priorities of the early settlers. New England grew to become more farm-centric, as did upstate New York, while New York City became enamored with craft and trade. When New York undertook the Erie Canal project, a rivalry of sorts ignited between New England and New York to complete the most efficient infrastructure projects. Subways and railways subsequently sprouted (the MBTA was the first subway system in the U.S.), and a canal was almost built connecting Troy, N.Y. to Boston as a response to the Erie Canal, the eastern terminus of which was at Albany – mere miles from Troy.
“A lot of regional difficulties and rivalries they have underpin a lot of pivotal moments,” Covart further noted.
So naturally when she became more familiar with Google Glass, she turned to her friends at the Historical Society to see if they’d be willing to share their collection in the name of accessible history, and for the benefit of her work investigating cultural identities.
And as the Historical Society is more than familiar with Covart and her work, as well as her noble intentions, they happily obliged.
“From my perspective as a reference librarian, the MHS is very excited to have Liz visit us and test out Google Glass as a research tool so that our staff can get a sense of how Glass works and how researchers may wish to use it in future to interact with our collections,” Anna Clutterbuck-Cook told BostInno in an email. “It will be a learning opportunity for all of us.”
Covart’s research begins on May 6, at which point possibility abounds. She’s most excited about the hands-free capabilities afforded by Glass – she offers up the example of taking angled photos with her phone due to her height, whereas with Glass she’ll be able to hold an item at arm’s length and take a leveled snapshot – but, as she’ll be the first to admit, the opportunities are endless.
Interested in a chance to purchase Google Glass for yourself? You’re in luck. On April 15, Google will allow anyone to buy a pair of their specs; if you’re willing to shell out a cool $1,500, that is.
Images via Shutterstock & Massachusetts Historical Society
