Last week on Pro: disrupting the university and energy efficient data centers

It was a big week for Google and Tesla, as new information about Google Glass stirred up fresh buzz for the device, and the electric vehicle company recovered from its New York Times snafu and projected it would become profitable next quarter. Meanwhile, on GigaOM Pro, our analysts gave their own opinions on Google’s wearable device, and looked ahead at education and digital learning – the next big disruption in tech?

Note: GigaOM Pro is a subscription-based research service offering in-depth, timely analysis of developing trends and technologies. Visit pro.gigaom.com to learn more about it.

Cleantech: Three trends that could transform the energy efficient data center
Adam Lesser

Analyst Adam Lesser takes a look at energy-efficient data centers, which have recently become the pet projects of internet giants like Facebook, Google and Amazon. But more companies (both large and small) are turning to data centers and exploring the best options for establishing energy-efficient practices and investments. Lesser sits down with Clemens Pfeiffer, a data center infrastructure management expert, to analyze the latest trends and technologies that could disrupt this space in the near-term future.

Mobile: Fashion shouldn’t be a high priority for Google Glass — at least not yet
Colin Gibbs

In a brief, fun blog post, analyst Colin Gibbs offers his opinion on Google Glass – and its latest collaboration with hipster eyewear company Warby Parker. As Google’s device heads to the consumer market, the intersection of fashion and design will play a central role in the wearable device market. But Gibbs still remains skeptical about mainstream adoption of Glass, especially given its price point.

Social: Disrupting the university: near-term opportunities in the digital-learning market
Shannon Arvizu

Analyst Shannon Arvizu looks at the rapidly-evolving digital education market, especially at the post-secondary level. IT spending for U.S. universities is projected to reach $ 10 billion in 2013 alone, leaving a huge opportunity for education technology startups to make true headway in the industry. Arvizu analyzes which startups, technologies, and qualities will be necessary in order to truly disrupt the ed-tech sector, including what types of learning and educational content may be most effective and influential.