Week 4 (#3): "Google Glasses"...what is the world coming to??

On my drive into work this morning I heard something on the radio that made me question if I was awake and really driving my car, or if I was actually still lying in bed and just having a really bizarre dream. The radio host was talking about a really unique and seemingly far-fetched product that Google plans to launch later this year, called "Google Glasses."  These glasses are eyeglasses that will project information, entertainment, and advertisements on the lenses. The glasses are not being designed to be worn constantly but are expected to be used only when needed, with lenses serving as a see-through computer monitor. The glasses will be equipped with GPS and motion sensors as well as a camera and audio inputs and outputs. 


Personally I think this product is an example of technology going too far. My initial thought is safety. If people are wearing these glasses and driving or walking, it would be 10x worse than people texting and doing these activities...not only will they be distracted but will they even be able to see clearly through the glasses into the real world?? Not to mention, these users will look really weird to onlookers who don't know what virtual images are being seen on the other side of the lenses; people could be dodging and ducking virtual objects while playing games, etc. Security and privacy is another issue...if facial recognition software becomes accurate enough, the glasses could remind a wearer of when and how he met the vaguely familiar person standing in front of him at a party. 


These glasses are being built in a secretive laboratory near Google's main Mountain View, CA campus and will use the same Anroid software that powers Android smartphones and tablets. 


Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/technology/google-glasses-will-be-powered-by-android.html