Google Glass

[Ollie]

How long before someone walks out in front of a car or a bike because they're reading or watching something on Google Glass instead of looking where they're going? You don't have to be in charge of a vehicle to be dangerously distracted.

[Deckard]

Probably less distracting than looking down at your phone for reading or writing texts or looking at directions. Its only a 25" at 8 feet away. I would imagine that the 2nd version would have a much bigger display, maybe even a full screen overlay or both lenses having a display after they have got users used to using V1.

[Deckard]

So anyone on here got a pair coming then ?

[Ollie]

Probably less distracting than looking down at your phone for reading or writing texts or looking at directions. Its only a 25" at 8 feet away. I would imagine that the 2nd version would have a much bigger display, maybe even a full screen overlay or both lenses having a display after they have got users used to using V1.

It's overlaid, which encourages the delusion that you can look at it, or even god help you watch video on it, whilst still being adequately aware of your surroundings. At least looking at directions or texts on your phone currently requires a definite conscious decision to physically remove your attention from whatever else you might be doing.

[Deckard]

I notice a few of the initial lot are posting glass videos now - this shows the sound and picture quality and makes a good point why you might use it ....

[pogo]

That's only 360p; would be better to see it a higher resolution one. Also the colour balance is all over the place; there's hopefully some way to lock it otherwise it will ruin a lot of a videos. And on sound it would be good to hear something recorded outside: microphones often need covers to work well outside, especially in wind/if moving quickly.

Edit: found another



Runs at 720p but it looks more like upscaled SD than HD. Colour balance seems more stable. Sound is pretty dull but then you can't hear much except the engine when go-karting.

[carolen]

http://www.zdnet.com/google-glass-and-t ... 000014187/

[Deckard]

So Google won't allow resale - [url]The company's terms of sale forbid Google's Explorers, who are the first to try out the futuristic-looking wearable computers, to sell, loan or give away the glasses. If an Explorer goes against these terms, the company retains the right to deactivate the glasses.

"Unless otherwise authorized by Google, you may only purchase one Device, and you may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your Device to any other person," Google wrote in its terms of sale. "If you resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person without Google's authorization, Google reserves the right to deactivate the Device, and neither you nor the unauthorized person using the Device will be entitled to any refund, product support, or product warranty."

The terms also say that Google has the right to "determine and use" the location of all Google Glass Explorers. And all photos and videos that the users take will be automatically uploaded to the users' Google+ Instant Upload album.

The company also retains the right to update Glass, which is still in beta testing, without notifying the user. The company also can remotely uninstall any services.

Late last month, Google chose more than 8,000 people to act as Glass Explorers, to try out the computerized eyewear. Those who applied by telling Google how they would use them in a brief message on Google+ or Twitter.

The majority of Explorers will pick up their pair at an event in either New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles. The company has not yet announced when the distribution events will be held. They also must pay $1,500 for the device.[/url]

[Misfit]

Not exactly surprised. Google aren't in it for the love despite what many still think.

I would also imagine they are keen not to get them into jail breakers hands. LEDs to show you are recording are all well and good, and pretty essential in a device like this, but you know it's the first thing a jail break will turn off...

I still in general hate the idea outside of specific purposes (as I said before) but I'm quite warming to the videoing events idea. It's always a pain in the ass trying to capture stuff at things like kids birthday parties without being really detached from the event by carrying a camera and worrying what it's pointing at.

[pogo]

So, privacy is not a problem as other people will always be able to tell when you take a photo or video, what with control being verbal? Well, there's now an app for that:

Google Glass developer writes an app to snap photos with just a wink

And even if Google don't allow this on their store the thing's already been hacked and rooted. It's meant to be hacker friendly. And an absolute privacy nightmare.

[Cloudane]

So Google won't allow resale - [url]The company's terms of sale forbid Google's Explorers, who are the first to try out the futuristic-looking wearable computers, to sell, loan or give away the glasses.

This sounds to me like a restriction placed on "Explorers" (beta testers?) and so it makes sense to me as an extension of an NDA. They don't want people saying they'll beta test these things and then just sell them on to the press / randomers.

If they're talking about final users though, then yeah I hope everyone avoids them like the plague as it sets a dangerous precedent of not even being to resell your own hardware. It's bad enough with games going in that direction.

[pogo]

Via Daring Fireball, and interesting comparison with the Segway:

If Google Glass Fails, It’s Robert Scoble’s Fault

But it's this that caught my eye:

Scoble is doing the same thing to Google Glass, something which DOESN’T need to happen. Google Glass has AWESOME potential, but if all people see is the creepy guy in the Men’s Room (YES, he wore them into a Men’s Room,) they’ll be dead before they’re even alive. The review shouldn’t talk about how you use it in the shower, but rather, should be talking about how the masses can use it – I.e., grabbing a photo of something happening in real-time, stopping a crime, identifying a lost child.

This gets to the heart of why these things are a really bad idea. "stopping a crime" ? So you're going to stand there filming while a crime takes place, in the hope of sharing the film with law enforcement ? (I assume he doesn't mean you'll physically use the glasses to intercede). Given that these things don't have telephoto zoom you'll have to be very close to the criminals. Can anyone else see the problem with this?

But even better, "identifying a lost child" ?? So you'll be walking around town, see a child you think is lost and vulnerable, and film them? Or just you'll film all the kids you see and keep the films in the hope you spot their picture on a milk carton? This will just get you arrested, and/or beaten up by the children's parents.

In some way such supporters are Glass's biggest problem: like the Segway they just don't see how their new toy is seen by others. But at least Segway just made you look like a fool with more money than sense. Using Glass in the wrong way or place could get you arrested or badly hurt (as well as making you look like a fool with more money than sense).

[random_dave]

I think I've thought of a genuine use for this, and it's the evolution of smart/sports watches

Imagine it, going for a run, your ant+ heart rate monitor talks to your phone, which is doing it's usual job of logging your performance with the GPS data, and then sending the heart rate, timing, and if appropriate could even be using the google navigation right there (almost) in your line of sight, leaving you free to focus on the run, without having to look at a watch, or a smartphone armband.

For tarting around in the city touching base with john in accounts, not so much, but i think this could have potential

[pogo]

[RiK]

Imagine it, going for a run, your ant+ heart rate monitor talks to your phone, which is doing it's usual job of logging your performance with the GPS data, and then sending the heart rate, timing, and if appropriate could even be using the google navigation right there (almost) in your line of sight, leaving you free to focus on the run, without having to look at a watch, or a smartphone armband.

I don't have to look at my phone now as the app I use will speak the info periodically, either on a time or distance interval.