The Deletist

Right now the big discussion surrounding Google Glass has to do with privacy implications, as mentioned in last week’s post.  People are concerned that Glass enables the wearer, also called Glass Explorers, to snap images and take video without anybody else knowing.  While this may be a legitimate concern for Glass, isn’t it already possible for people to take pictures and video with their smartphones, or smartwatches, without others knowing?

At a conference I attended recently one of the tech staff revealed to me that when famous guests are in the conference centre, he would sometimes walk by and snap surreptitious pictures using his smartwatch.  Admittedly using a smartphone is not as clandestine as Glass, but it still happens.  Just the other day a friend sent me a photo he had taken on the subway of two men completely absorbed with their smartphones.  Is that the same infringement on privacy?

In addition to privacy, there are two other aspects of Glass that have not received a lot of attention.

1.  Distraction – Smartphones are a continual distraction for most people, even though leaving the device out of sight and on silent, or vibrate, is an option.  People are already disillusioned into thinking they can multi-task with handheld devices while doing other things, such as having conversations, walking, or trying to work.  How will this work with Glass, when the information is presented in the wearer’s direct line of sight?  An article written in April 2013 titled “What Will Google Glass do to Our Brains?” explores the effects of Glass on health, attention spans, and feeling connected through interpersonal interactions.

2.  Virtual Sharing – With Glass it is possible for the wearer to share his/her view with others through Hangout, a Google application that allows for video conversations with screen sharing, or through LiveStream, a platform that allows people to record and broadcast events.  Glass makes sharing interactive in a way that hasn’t been utilized before now.  The screen sharing capabilities of Hangout make it possible for somebody to see exactly what the Glass wearer is seeing, in real time.  Whoa.  Shouldn’t people also be concerned that their privacy could be violated by having somebody else silently watching through Glass?

Stay tuned. Should you decide to invest in Glass, watch this video to avoid being labeled a glasshole.

About a year ago, Google ran a contest on Twitter to select some people to try out Google Glass, a new product. Glass is essentially a pair of eyeglass frames with a small screen and computer built in. The screen sits just above the right eye. Click here to learn more about it.

Basically Glass aims to make taking pictures, capturing video, messaging people and surfing the web a seamless experience by eliminating the need to hold a device.  For example, the Glass wearer can take a picture of something while s/he is participating because Glass makes it a hands-free activity. Simply speak a command beginning with O.K. Glass and then the action is performed.

On the one hand, this sounds like an amazing feat.  I would certainly appreciate something like this when I’m hiking or when I want to photograph something but can’t because my hands are busy.  However, some people don’t like Glass because they feel like their privacy could be violated.  If a Glass wearer can take pictures or record video without anybody noticing, then it can make other people nervous.

I recently read an article about a woman asked to remove her Glass in a restaurant due to privacy concerns and refused.  She was labeled a “glasshole“.  Once I heard this, I started thinking about places I might feel uncomfortable if somebody was wearing Glass.  For example, my gym’s locker room forbids the use of smartphones because of their photographic capabilities.  Most people ignore it, but I’ve heard it enforced by members.

A Glass wearer can also have hangout sessions, a Google application that lets people have video conversations.  During a hangout, the other person can see everything the Glass wearer can see.  What if a Glass wearer has a conversation with somebody in person while doing a hangout session with somebody else?  The person on hangout would be privy to the entire conversation.  Talk about being a fly on the wall.

As more people start wearing Glass perhaps we will grow accustomed to seeing it and Glass wearers will not be thought of as glassholes.  It could be similar to other technologies that seemed strange at first, like when people first started using cell phones in public places.  Over time we’ve grown tolerant of people using their phones anytime anywhere.  Perhaps Glass will follow the trend.