Specked Out
Google’s Glass project looks really cool, and if there was a way I could test one out, I would jump at the opportunity. Maybe the kind folks who read this strip from Google can make that happen?
In any event, Google’s Glass looks impressive – and it’s undeniably a tantalizing glimpse of what awaits us in the future. Ideally, it can transform the world in many positive ways: through education, communication, and capturing those cherished memories first hand.
The only question is: what are the social and moral implications of using a device? Imagine the student cheating on an exam? Imagine a corporate spy stealing secrets in plain sight? Imagine drivers being distracted by numerous alerts while driving?
This device has the potential to really change everything, and in some ways, it’s a bit scary. What do you think? What would you do with a pair of Google Glasses?
I have two codes available for Dataman Next for iOS to give away. Share your thoughts and I’ll randomly pick two winners from the comments below.
-Krishna
P.S. Check out the process work for Vince Dorse’s PC Weenies fan art that he posted a few days ago.
These beautiful and intelligent people wrote
Tell me what you think!
m13
March 11, 2013 at 11:08 amBeyond the more obvious driving and exam cheating issues, there is a social etiquette problem that will need to be addressed. Should people be allowed to wear this in a library, restaurant, movie theater, etc where usage of a smart phone may be otherwise be forbidden or discouraged? I am guessing not.
t3rminus
March 11, 2013 at 7:55 pmGoogle Glass has always seemed like a voice-driven product primarily. The visual or augmented-reality heads-up display component seems somewhat secondary.
The problems you’re talking about already exist with smartphones, so I don’t think it will change much.
Google’s engineers are smart enough to figure out ways of making it less distracting when you’re driving (camera or GPS speed detection?). It might actually be [i]less distracting[/i] than a smartphone.
I’m also sure it will be quite obvious to teachers if it’s being used during tests, since you have to give it commands out loud, whereas a smartphone could be used much more covertly.
There are extremely highly paid people at Google working diligently to make sure the exact kind of problems you envision are either not a problem, or at least no more of a problem than we have currently with smartphones.
At least I hope there are…
t3rminus
March 11, 2013 at 7:59 pmI think I should also point out– Google Glass isn’t new. Google’s doing what Apple does best, and packaging existing technology into an interesting new form-factor, and making it affordable and desirable to consumers.
Basically, none of these problems are new. They’re just coming into discussing because of the hype surrounding a “new” product.
qka
March 12, 2013 at 11:34 amI’m wondering how Glass works for those with less than perfect vision. And if you outfit Glass with corrective lenses, how is the sensation going from looking thru the lenses to looking at the Glass display? Does it cause eye strain and related complaints?