Google Glasses, A Clear Choice?

A consequence of technology advancing means that it becomes more mobile and smaller. The invention of the mobile phone has put dangers on driving and performing other daily activities. What would happen if those mobile capabilities that you get on your smart phone can be placed right in front of your face, in the form of glasses?

Google announced their production of a product called Project Glass.  Project Glass is essentially computers in a glasses form. Researchers are calling it augmented reality, where the technology in the glasses adapts to what you’re looking at. For example, if you’re looking at the sky, the glasses show the current temperature and weather. Also, the device can share video, photos, maps, etc. This gadget is aimed at the ultra-mobile tech-savvy person who doesn’t care to look a little bit awkward.

There are obviously a few questions that arise when this product is presented. The most expressed question is whether or not these glasses are safe. Like many advances in technology, many people feel there is a threat to safety when using said technology. Using these glasses has been compared to texting while driving. People have said that the images on these glasses could be deemed distracting and take away from daily activities. Rightfully, they are new and will take some getting used to. To argue against those deeming the glasses unsafe, I present the argument that even while texting and driving is illegal in many states, people still do it. Needless to say, if people want to use these glasses, they will.

The other question being brought up is the design of them. Currently, the glasses appear as a sort of large bluetooth device that sits on the side of the user’s head. In an article from Fox News, the remembrance of bluetooths and their fashion faux-pas characteristic is brought up. People would choose design of functionality. Hopes are being expressed that Google will not fall under this category. If they get the design right, there is no reason people shouldn’t buy them.

Patents have been bought by Google for these Google Glasses, and patents have already been bought for eye contact versions.

The video demonstrating Project Glass can be found here.