One up coming technology that has everyone either on the edge of their seats or cringing with fear of their privacy is Google Glass.
Glass is being developed by Google X Lab, a top-secret facility Google has that also has worked on the Google driverless car project. Glass is an augmented reality, head-mounted display(HMD). Basically, it is a wearable computer. The idea is to display information you would normally get from your smartphone without using your hands. While Google is not the first to attempt augmented reality through head-mounted display, this project has drawn much more attention from the press. [1] While the developer version became available in February of this year, they are not anticipated to be available for the general public until Q4 of 2013. [2]
Many people are worried about their privacy being infringed upon with Glass. Already Glass has received backlash in articles from the Atlantic and Wired basically stating that the people who wear them will be mocked.[3] Las Vegas has already banned Glass inside of Casinos and a bar in Seattle has also banned the technology. [4][5] People will have to adjust to this new technology, just like people have adjusted to smartphones and tablets. When smartphones and were first released, not many people had them. Now, over a billion people in the world own them. [6] Just like with smartphones and tablets, social norms will require change to make Glass acceptable. The idea that anyone at any point in time can take a picture or video of someone can be a bit disturbing, especially in densely populated places such as New York City. While most people’s informational privacy is not so secure any more thanks to the internet and social media sites such as Facebook, people are still able to feel like they have privacy in their actual lives.
Of course the benefits of Glass seem obvious to some technophiles. The apps that can be used from a visual display are countless. So many people use Apps on their smartphones that help them with their daily lives. The same can be done with Glass. One example is an app that identifies packaged foods that are free of allergens that make people sick. What the future holds for applications for Glass is right now unknown. But the future can see apps going in many different directions. For the gamer, apps that are interactive with real life would be almost like a cross between mobile games and a Wii. If you need to someone in a crowd of people, facial recognition apps could be very useful.
One concern Glass users might have with apps is that they might be costly. But not to worry, Google has already solved this. Developers of Glass apps, also know as “Glassware,” will not be able to charge for their software.[7] One might worry that this might mean their apps will be littered with ads. Except not. Google has also prohibited developers from displaying ads. Google, who gather about 95% of their revenue from ads, released this information last month. This might have some negative backlashes for their “Glassware” though. One problem that this might encounter is developers might be less inclined to develop sophisticated apps that are time consuming since there are no financial rewards. If this were to keep this way in the long term, than Google might not find an influx of developers rushing to create “Glassware.”
Some third part apps for Glass were announced at South by Southwest (SXSW) this year. Those apps include Evernote, which will be an app for taking notes; Skitch, which is a photo editing app; Path, a social networking app; and the New York Times, which is obviously a news service.
Google not only wants their product to be a way for the user to “wear” the internet, but Google also wishes to keep design in mind. Basically, Google wants their glasses to be stylish. Google is currently negotiating with Warby Parker, “an e-commerce start-up company that sells trendy eyeglasses,” to assist in the design of more fashionable glasses. [8] Currently, the frames have no lenses. Google is experimenting with adding sunglass or prescription lenses for the future.
Some downfalls to glass have been addressed.[9] 1) Estimated battery life of this technology is somewhere around 3-5 hours. For most smartphone users, battery life is one of the biggest concerns. And for a technology that is suppose to be worn all day, this will certainly lead to some issues for Glass users. 2) Google Glass has been known to induce headaches. 3) Users can not change any settings on glass. While this may change in the future before Glass’s release to the public, currently this is a problem. Users like to adjust things like volume to make the technology more personal. 4) Users still need smartphones with Bluetooth if they are to be used outside. This will burn a smartphone’s battery and use up data plan. 5) Supposedly it is not easy to respond to messages is tough. Unless you talk slowly and clearly, there will be many errors in messages. And you can’t go back and edit it, you have to remake the entire message. 6) Blind in your right eye? Too bad, you can’t use glass. Most of these problems will probably be fixed over time, but for now, they will have people questioning purchasing Glass.
Augmented Reality is something we see and read in Science Fiction. But it is becoming a reality for the general public with Google Glass. Some worries are worried with Glass having already been jailbroken, having Glass record videos without people even realizing.[10] The fact that Glass has already been hacked into this early shows serious security flaws. Given time, there will be more security issues unless Google fixes this. Google is notorious for great security, so hopefully this translates into Glass. Glass has the potential to become something that changes our lives, similar to how smartphones have. Given time, and probably sooner than people think, Glass will evolve into something almost like the HMD Tony Stark uses in his Iron Man suite.
1) Houston, T. (2012, April 12). Google’s Project Glass augmented reality glasses begin testing | The Verge. The Verge. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://www.theverge.com/2012/4/4/2925237/googles-project-glass-augmented-reality-glasses-begin-testing
2) Miller, C. (2013, February 20). Google Looks to Make Its Computer Glasses Stylish – NYTimes.com. The New York Times – Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/21/technology/google-looks-to-make-its-computer-glasses-stylish.html?_r=0
3)Henn, S. (2013, May 13). Google Fights Glass Backlash Before It Even Hits The Street : All Tech Considered : NPR. NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/05/13/183468218/google-fights-glass-backlash-before-it-even-hits-the-street
4) Byford, S. (2013, May 7). Caesars Palace confirms ban on Google Glass-wearing gamblers | The Verge. The Verge. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/7/4310424/caesars-palace-bans-google-glass-for-gamblers
5) Dickey, M. (2013, March 11). Seattle Bar Bans Google Glass – Business Insider.Business Insider. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://www.businessinsider.com/seattle-bar-bans-google-glass-2013-3
6) Dover, S. (2012, October 17). Study: Number of smartphone users tops 1 billion – CBS News. Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News – CBS News. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57534583/study-number-of-smartphone-users-tops-1-billion/
7) McCollagh, D. (2013, April 15). Google: ‘Glassware’ developers prohibited from displaying ads | Google – CNET News.Technology News – CNET News. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://news.cnet.com/8301-10812_3-57579762/google-glassware-developers-prohibited-from-displaying-ads/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title
8) A look on the upcoming Google Glass apps! – Gadget Media. (2013, May 13).Gadget Media. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://gadgetmedia.org/news/a-look-on-the-upcoming-google-glass-apps
9) Yarrow, J. (2013, May 3). Nobody Really Likes Google Glass – Business Insider.Business Insider. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://www.businessinsider.com/nobody-really-likes-google-glass-2013-5
10) McDonnell, J. (2013, May 1). Google Glass jailbroken: hacker says security is ineffective « KitGuru. KitGuru. Retrieved May 13, 2013, from http://www.kitguru.net/channel/joseph-mcdonnell/google-glass-jailbroken-hacker-says-security-is-ineffective/
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