Zach Dorsch photo: Meghan Corbin will test out a brand new Google device.

Using only 66 characters, Professor Meghan Corbin has won the once in a lifetime opportunity to test-drive Google’s latest technology, Google Glass.

Corbin found the entry from someone that she follows on Twitter. Google held a competition, Glass Explorer Program, in which they asked for Twitter responses to the question, “What would you do with Glass?”

After giving some thought about how students could use the product positively and negatively, Corbin’s answer was easy to present, “Engage students in discovering its potential in a higher education classroom.”

Corbin, a communications professor, believes in Mercyhurst’s hands-on approach to education.

After receiving a response from Google, she had to do a double take on whether it was truly going to happen.

“I never win anything, so I thought it was a mistake,” said Corbin. “The news remained personal for about 15 minutes because I was just too excited.”

Corbin is one of about 8,000 people to be given the opportunity to test drive what may be the next greatest technology to hit the market.

Corbin is one of three winners from the Erie community. The other two include Erie Insurance’s Douglas Boldt and Cathedral Prep senior Mark Lyons.

Google Glass is designed to perform many of the tasks that people see in their smartphones, but from the hands-free system of an eyeglass wear.

With glass, the controls are within a simple touch of the sides of the eyewear or by saying the command.

The spectacles are constructed to include a miniature camera and display on the right side.

Corbin has already thought of different ways to use Glass in the classrooms in which she teaches at Merychurst.

As many are, Corbin is anxious and excited to see how this new form of technology may impact the future education experience of students around the world.

She has been anxiously awaiting to hear back soon about making a trip to New York City where she will join other winners to learn more about Glass and the functionality behind it.

Being chosen as one of the explorers to assist in making Glass possible comes with a $1,500 price tag, but the benefits of essentially assisting in the improvement of a product that may be the next step to the future of technology is an experience she may never receive again.

Her plans are to test the use of video production and visual communication of a wide variety of information.

“Students and I will be looking at its application in online advertising as well as its integration with new and existing tools like Google Maps and search,” said Corbin. “I will also be talking with other professors in other areas of the university to see how we can work together to research its uses and the impacts it could have in the classroom.”

One of the main concerns that Corbin has is the typical technology issues and the contributions it may have towards student distractions.

Corbin would also appreciate any ideas for testing from the student body and the public.

To find out more information about Corbin’s adventure through test-driving Glass, or to submit any ideas for testing, follow her blog at glassinclass.blogspot.com.