Google Glass is that new glasses like gizmo that puts the Internet right in front of your eyeball. It’s most likely going to be the ultimate cool kid toy for a while, until everyone figures out how ultimately creepy the thing is.
You may have seen an article or three about Google Glass in recent days. In fact, you may know enough to call them Google Glasses, which is what I do.
More info can be revealed about Google Glass by visiting the website: http://www.google.com/glass/start/
I’m always amazed when the marketing dorks get ahold of a technology like Google Glass and demonstrate how it works. The images (from the website above) typically show people outdoors doing things. How often does that happen any more? I mean, it’d be far more realistic to show some fat guy on a couch playing Call of Duty while wearing Google Glass. But I digress.
The number of Google Glass users is low. It’s just being tested now. You can sign up to get a pair. The rumored cost is $1500, which should keep mortal users away.
Then there’s the creepy element. The fact that you can wear the things and record video or take still images is perhaps the biggest push-back to the device. I mean, it’s annoying enough to have someone talking or texting on a cell phone when they’re with you in the world. With Google Glass how do you know when the person you’re with is actually with you or off on the Internet somewhere, perhaps chatting with a fat guy on a couch?
The creepy factor also introduced me to a new word: Creepshots. Disgusting. You can read more about that factor from Gizmodo. Warning: It’s gross.
This CNet report also features some good info on how Google Glass can be abused.
On the larger picture, my observations with Google has been that they don’t do anything without a purpose.
For example, consider Google’s free phone information service. It was free and useful, pretty much a better alternative to the old 411. Its real purpose was to train Google’s servers how to understand voice input. So while Google was supposedly giving something away, they were really luring unsuspecting people into a giant beta test of their voice recognition software.
You could argue that Google’s technique wasn’t abusive, but it did set a pattern: When Google does something “for free” there’s most likely an ulterior motive.
So what’s the motive for Google Glass? What data does Google want to gather from Glass users? I would seriously consider those questions before buying a pair. After all, it would be important to know whether Google Glass is about enhancing the things you do, or is it about enhancing the things Google does?
