Google Co-Founder Says Smartphones Are ''Emasculating''
Google Glass requires less rubbing, Sergey Brin suggests.
On Wednesday during the TED Conference in Long Beach, California, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, sporting the Google Glass headset, told a captive audience that he's still bothered by the use of smartphones, that they are somehow "emasculating". Users are standing around rubbing a featureless piece of glass, and apparently that's not very masculine.
Brin acknowledged that Google Glass also requires a little rubbing, but the current hardware has fewer features than most phones, thus less "rubbing" required. Google Glass also has the upper hand because there will always be a camera ready to snap a picture by a mere voice command – rubbing is not required.
The point he was seemingly trying to make is that the ideal search technology would surface information before the user even asks for it. He's been working on that problem for the last 15 years, and Google Glass is the first form factor that can truly deliver on that vision. He's also spent the last two years fine-tuning the actual physical design, describing the original vision as a "cell phone strapped to your head".
The Google Glass camera has been the source of concern for privacy groups for some time. During CES 2013, Vuzix even relayed a similar concern it was facing regarding its competing product, the Smart Glass M100. Like Google Glass, it features a camera that allows users to quietly take pictures without the typical obvious motions used with smartphones.
According to the Vuzix rep, there are social aspects to consider when launching "smart glasses" such as secretly recording video, walking in public areas using the device, actually driving a car with the headset in place and so on. Reception for the Smart Glass M100 has been outstanding, the rep said, but the company needs to do more research and come up with a suitable marketing strategy.
Brin recently told CNN that Google Glass will have an automatic picture-taking mode, allowing the user to snap pictures at preset intervals like every five seconds. Later a Google representative said that not every Google Glass unit will automatically record an image at preset intervals, as the first wave of Google Glass units will not ship with the auto-photo function.
Still, how would you like to look at a person what has a wearable camera pointing in your face? Creepy, right? "Basically everyone with Google Glass will have a Closed Camera Television on their head, (CCTV) and have the ability to broadcast their 'vision' to the world," one consumer questions on Google's product forums. "What if someone does not feel comfortable being broadcasted nationally?"
Brin's TED Conference presentation arrives as Google wraps up its application submittal window for an "Explorer" edition of Google Glass. This pilot program will be the last chance non-developers will be able to get their hands on the specs until they supposedly go on sale for under $1500 USD by the end of the year.
B) When did TED become a marketing platform?
Seriously...
B) When did TED become a marketing platform?
Seriously...
I dont even have a phone! (yep, in these crazy times, no phone
This. You don't think the gov't or people within it with their Patriot Act style BS wouldn't somehow use this with facial recognition and other software to keep tabs on everybody. It's like '1984' waiting to happen. They already have backdoors into Facebook so why not whatever Google has lined up? I'm not saying all gov't is untrustworthy but you know there are individuals or groups with their own agenda...
Pride is futile.
i can see it used for some things but if you think the government can anylize all peices of data even on facebook alone then i have a bridge to sell you. unless facial recognition software gets a hti of a person of interest in your pictures then you are probably fine
They wouldn't be able to do this covertly, there would be a lot of processing and transmitting involved. It would also be very impractical, a lot of effort to be able to find a few individuals faster.
No, the next front in the invasion of privacy/ubiquitous surveillance will be children. There will be a few high profile cases of sexual abuse of children, and the government will mandate all places where children might spend their time to be monitored 24/7, and this will ultimately include private homes with children. Most parents will line up behind it, those that resist will have their kids taken away and before you know it, every home will be wired for sight and sound to the local police station.
They should have worked on design more and made it something that doesn't look so dorky. I don't think it will catch on nearly as well as it could with a better look. They should have learned from Apple by now that having a product that looks cool is very important to the general public.
Ah, I wish. It's so hard to provoke people to try to punch you in the face these days, what with lawsuits and stand your ground laws.
And besides, who cares what some non-augmented peasant thinks? Just stare through them, say "Ok Glass, draw a penis over his face" and laugh.