Google Web Glasses

[Flangenimblick]

First, watch this:




Then read this: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/on...ef=online-news


I am quite excited about this! The possibilities are enormous and I will probably be getting myself a pair once their out and field tested for a bit.


However, there are 3 criticisms I have:

1) Even though they say:

Best of all, since the display allows wearers to keep their heads up, pedestrians checking checking their email or texting while crossing the street should still be able to see oncoming cars, bikes, and telephone poles. Rest easy, folks: the brief but dangerous period of technological adolescence known as the era of distracted walking may soon be over.

I'm still very much concerned about safety issues here. Even just watching the video, I could see how easily you can get distracted by things on screen. What if you're on a call with your gf/bf and they flash you as you're walking across the street? Don't tell me you'll be able to focus on traffic with genitals in your face (just as an example).

So, safety is still very much a concern...

2) Social ridiculousness. First, you talking to yourself and walking around concentrating on something only you can see and hear will make you look like an idiot. Second, you will look like such a freaking hipster... If you wear glasses already, fine, maybe you can get a pair that looks like what you've always worn, but for eveyone else:

3) The loss of basic knowledge and path-finding skills. If you're always wearing these glasses, I reckon you'll eventually loose the ability to find your own way about, or even retain basic knowledge as all you have to do is blink twice and POOF, instant info. Now, arguably, this is already happening/hasn't happened with current technology and smartphones, but I think the fact that the phone is a separate tool that you have to fish out of your pocket etc creates a sort of disconnect from the information, which still leaves room for your actual memory. I used to have terrible path-finding skills, I was known for it in my family, but when I moved to Edinburgh, I had to walk everywhere and find my way. I did use my iPhone to find my way, still do sometimes, but the fact that it wasn't in my face all the time meant that I could get the opportunity to create a mental map myself and keep my directional ability in tact. I worry that having the glasses in one's face means you won't ever have to remember, which is detrimental in the long run, especially if you loose the glasses when you need them most.


But, regardless of this, I'm still excited by the prospect.

Thoughts?

[OnlyOneKenobi]

Very cool but from a safety point of view, Iwould be very worried about people driving while wearing and using these glasses - as you've said, one could easily be distracted by info on your HUD...

[Drone]

Its all building towards this.

Would also love to get a pair of these Googly Glasses. :D

[Cyanide]

Its all building towards this.

Would also love to get a pair of these Googly Glasses. :D

I'll rather go for the contacts then I don't look like a nerd talking to myself, just a regular dude that talks to himself hehe.

[Sir-Ominous]

Definitely one of the coolest videos on the web. Think about how it would revolutionize gaming. Google! make this happen PLEASE.

[Flangenimblick]

Holy crap that would rule! YES PLEASE! :D

[Wesley]

Google's Glasses seen on Larry Page's face

Larry Page is your typical geek. He wears off-colour clothes, he has a typical bowl haircut and doesn't have the kind of intimidating presence or authoritative tone of voice you'd expect from someone who introduces technology from a high-powered executive board position. Larry chooses to speak to the techno buff in all of us as a man, an ordinary man, who loves gadgets as much as we do.

But here is the guy who earns triple in a minute than what you probably do in a year speaking to attendees of Google's Zeitgeist event wearing the oft-mentioned Google glasses. Hit the jump to see what he's got to say on the technology and how he thinks it'll change lives.

Linky

[Danno84]

I will pre-order a pair; would be nice is prepaid mobile data prices are nice and low by then.

[Jeronkey]

The loss of basic knowledge and path-finding skills. If you're always wearing these glasses, I reckon you'll eventually loose the ability to find your own way about, or even retain basic knowledge as all you have to do is blink twice and POOF, instant info. Now, arguably, this is already happening/hasn't happened with current technology and smartphones, but I think the fact that the phone is a separate tool that you have to fish out of your pocket etc creates a sort of disconnect from the information, which still leaves room for your actual memory.

I tend to agree in someway. I don't want to come off as antagonistic towards any sort of new technology or even technology in general, but there is a danger that some people would become far too dependent on something like this.

I went through a phase in my life where I tended to use Wikipedia or Dictionary.com the moment I wanted to look something up and I must admit that I tended to feel a bit at a loss whenever our internet went down at home. I would decide I wanted to look something up and rush over to my computer only to find.. "Drat. I forgot we don't have internet at the moment.."

Then, you could take my sister.. if we don't have internet, or she can't use her cellphones properly, she starts cracking up a little. She spends so much time on Facebook and socially networking over the internet or via mobile that if you take those away she'll honestly be utterly miserable. I also see plenty of people too absorbed in their phones when they should be focusing on driving their cars.

At the same time though. I think this is pretty darn neat. It could definitely have some fun uses. We just need to try get people to have the self-discipline to manage usage if this really takes off.

EDIT: Ok. I'm really not trying to get too carried away with the whole technology abuse issue.. but, I also realized I know someone so hooked on mxit and such, that they can come to you to ask you something and while your busy talking face to face with them they'll get a message and suddenly be lost in some sort of dream land that you just have to stand there waiting for them to snap back into the real world. Can you imagine how people like that would be like with this on their heads? I suppose if I had one too I send them a huge angry glaring red message that said "STOP IGNORING ME!"

[Drone]

^ If you want to get their attention, just message them... LOL

I do that to people I know that are completely hooked on BBM or Facebook. While they are right there next to me getting lost on their phones, I just send them a message. "Get of the phone, I'm right here :\" Makes them feel like an idiot and it's funny. :D