In
2012, Google began testing and demonstrating a new product that they call
“Google Glass”. Google Glass is a device
that is a very small display screen and it is made to be worn either by itself,
or hooked on to a pair of glasses or sunglasses. The device will show the user the time, give
directions, search the Internet, send messages and take photos and videos. This is all done hands-free. Just speak and Google Glass will do as you
ask.
Since
its debut, there have been around 8,000 Glass wearers. Last year, at SxSW (an annual conference
featuring music, films and interactive technology), Google Glass was seen
everywhere. The same was true of this
year’s conference. People are curious
about what it’s like, but most find it pretty creepy. But, why is it that most people find it
creepy? After all, it’s just a small
piece of glass that sits near the wearer’s eye.
When
you see someone wearing Google Glass, whether they are sitting across from you
at a table or simply walking past you on the street, you never know what they
are doing on the device. They could be
reading texts, doing research, or they could be doing nothing at all with it at
the time. When someone walks by you
wearing Google Glass, you would never know if that person has just taken a
picture of you or even shot a video as you were approaching each other. This is what makes it so creepy. In fact, many people feel uncomfortable even
coming close to someone wearing Google Glass.
Google
Glass makes people so uncomfortable that some have been told to leave stores,
clubs and even meetings at work if they didn’t remove the device. Wearing Google Glass at an airport could
cause problems as could driving while wearing the device. In
fact, Cecilia Abadie was the first person to get a traffic ticket while wearing
Google Glass. She was initially stopped
for speeding in October 2013, but when the officer saw that she was wearing
Google Glass, he added a ticket for the violation “monitor visible to driver”. Ms. Abadie took the matter to Court in
January 2014 and was found not guilty.
The officer had no proof that the monitor was turned on at the time of
the incident.
When
it comes to discussion groups about Google Glass, there are two views: Google Glass wearers love the device, but
those interacting with them don’t like it at all. In fact, they barely tolerate it. In social situations, non-wearers get a
feeling of paranoia because they feel they are always being “watched”.
What’s
odd about all this discomfort is that those who say they don’t like the feeling
that they are being recorded by Google Glass wearers don’t think twice about
being recorded other ways; like with a smart phone or security cameras. Of course, the difference here is that with a
smart phone or security cameras, you always know when you are being
recorded. With Google Glass, you would
never know. So, I guess the feeling of
unease isn’t from the fact that they could be recorded, it’s from the not
knowing if it’s happening or not.
Google
Glass wearers don’t see an issue with each other because they know how the
device works. However, if you have never
worn Google Glass, and you are talking with someone who wears it, all you see
is this small piece of glass and you can’t help but wonder if your conversation
is being recorded.
