UK’s Newcastle University was one of the institutions selected by Google to receive five Glass devices in their research. And they’ve put the fancy gadget to good use to help Parkinson’s disease sufferers.

The program was designed to allow Parkinson’s sufferers to retain more independence for longer relying on Glass’s online connectivity, sensors and voice-based features. Using specially designed apps, the team at the Newcastle University was able to display customized alerts notifying users of upcoming medical appointments, and when they should take medication.

In addition, reminders are also shown at regular intervals to prevent drooling, while Glass’s motion sensors and display are used to show visual cues to help sufferers deal with “freezing,” a symptom of the illness. Volunteers in this program also benefitted from Glass’s voice-activated features, which allowed them to quickly call friends, family members or carers using nothing but their voice.

We’re still in the early days of Google Glass adoption, but its increasing use among the medical professionals shows us how the “brave new world” will benefit both the doctors and patients.