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The Practicality Of Glass

Google Glass: Ergonomics, Performance, And Practicality, Tested
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Alright, so I’m fine with wearing a set of camera-equipped frames. Now what? So many Explorers have already professed their love for Glass, gushing that they won’t go another day without it.

How about a contrarian view? I see a world where Glass is ubiquitous. It easily becomes a primary hands-free interface with our smartphones. After all, even the Explorer Edition uses a combination of Bluetooth and tethered Wi-Fi to generate turn-by-turn directions, send dictated SMS messages, and place calls to any of 10 stored contacts. The thing is, I don’t need all of those functions every time I’m out. And I don’t snap a shot of every course I eat, either (though I do have to confess enjoyment in taking pictures of cars that cut me off in traffic as Glass’ reticles contract, target-acquired-style).

Video tends to be more situational. By default, Glass records 10 seconds at a time unless you tap, then tap again to Extend Video. Ten seconds is understandable given the impact on battery life. Admittedly, though, any arbitrary number makes it difficult to “time life.” More than once I started a recording in anticipation of an event, only to realize I’d be cut off before Glass could register my double-tap. I’m not sure there’s an easy solution to this.

At least for now, Glass’ place in my life is novel. It’s great for keeping your nose out of your phone, though the prism projector is really just a distraction in a different direction. In the animation below, you can see that both eyes look up to read the projected image, taking focus off of whatever is in front of you. Throughout the day, you’re going to put Glass on and then take it off when what you’re doing just isn’t relevant. And that’s where the funky form factor becomes unwieldy.

Enough cynicism, though. There are really awesome ways to use Glass, and I’m only two days in. Let’s say I’m in the lab, working on an upcoming platform review, and want to demonstrate to the Tom’s Hardware editors how to configure the latest version of our automated benchmark suite. I can “hang out with…” the staff, keep both hands free, and have them see what I’m doing from my perspective.

Or maybe, someday, I’m trying to teach my son Lucas how to ride a bike. I want to capture that moment. But I don’t want a smartphone in one hand and his handlebars in the other. Throw Glass on, interact with him naturally, and record it all. Glass is going to be a great way for parents to memorialize a lot of firsts without managing birthday parties, juggling Christmas presents, or trying to steady those first few steps while glancing over at a camera screen. This puts the moment in point-of-view, and it doesn’t create a spectator out of you. You remain a participant in life, and you get the tape when the action is over.

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  • 5 Hide
    Benthon , May 14, 2013 10:03 PM
    I'm personally excited to see where this takes off to. They just need to bring the price down and they have a new generation of product. Great review! It definitely was cute to see your kid walking around and getting him water/playing with him from his perspective.
  • 0 Hide
    blackmagnum , May 14, 2013 10:05 PM
    Elitist geek tech. Making it illusive like Gmail beta. We can only watch and dream.
  • -1 Hide
    witcherx , May 14, 2013 11:01 PM
    why not just make lens.. come on aliens...
    why give us outdated products...
  • 6 Hide
    CaptainTom , May 15, 2013 12:30 AM
    This really is the future. It will just take the third generation or so before it becomes mainstream practical. Oh and I want the lenses to be screens themselves, that would be cyberpunk badass!
  • 0 Hide
    virtualban , May 15, 2013 1:25 AM
    Why do you keep saying "Equivalent of a 25-inch HD screen from eight feet away"? The resolution, according to other sources, is not even 720p.
    You could say "Equivalent of a 16:9, 25-inch screen from eight feet away"
  • 3 Hide
    cats_Paw , May 15, 2013 1:37 AM
    Considering the Privacy issues this will bring on the population, this product might be a big fail.

    I know if i had any form ob bussines, i would not allow my customers to be filmed there. That means, no google glass.
  • 0 Hide
    Vorador2 , May 15, 2013 3:23 AM
    cats_PawConsidering the Privacy issues this will bring on the population, this product might be a big fail.I know if i had any form ob bussines, i would not allow my customers to be filmed there. That means, no google glass.


    Privacy issues? The same than people with a phone. Nowadays anyone with a smartphone can take photos or record videos.

    The only thing it needs to do is to put a led than lights up when people take photos or make videos.
  • 1 Hide
    kettu , May 15, 2013 3:53 AM
    "Take it from a dad, though: there’s something to be said for playing with your kid and recording it, rather than watching him run around, passively, through a smartphone camera (50 minutes of video at a time, that is)."

    I bet that recording everything gets real old real fast. What are you going to with thousands of hours of video? Show it to your friends? I bet they'll love every minute of it! :) 
  • 3 Hide
    randomizer , May 15, 2013 4:00 AM
    That is going to be shown at his 21st isn't it?
  • 1 Hide
    butremor , May 15, 2013 5:49 AM
    I like this video showing how it looks like looking thoriugh a glass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-y3bEjEVV8
  • 1 Hide
    ruffopurititiwang , May 15, 2013 6:52 AM
    I'll wait until apple comes out with their version, made of glass and aluminum. Because more weight means higher quality. Patented, of course.
  • 0 Hide
    AndrewJacksonZA , May 15, 2013 7:45 AM
    What I wouldn't give for a recording of my Dad and my Mom playing with me as a child, from my perspective and from theirs.
  • 0 Hide
    Tuishimi , May 15, 2013 9:10 AM
    The video was adorable. :) 
  • 0 Hide
    TeraMedia , May 15, 2013 11:28 AM
    Next it will be at weddings - possibly even as part of a photog package. Brides and Grooms can see the entire affair from each others' perspectives, as well as from that of guests, etc.
  • 0 Hide
    internetlad , May 15, 2013 11:42 AM
    kettuWhat are you going to with thousands of hours of video? Show it to your friends? I bet they'll love every minute of it!


    How old are you? Old enough not to appreciate looking back on your life, apparently.

    My son is only 3 years old now, and my wife and I constantly remark that we wish we had taken more videos to remember all the incredible things he did in the first couple of years, some of which are now certainly forgotten.
  • 1 Hide
    kettu , May 15, 2013 1:56 PM
    internetladHow old are you? Old enough not to appreciate looking back on your life, apparently. My son is only 3 years old now, and my wife and I constantly remark that we wish we had taken more videos to remember all the incredible things he did in the first couple of years, some of which are now certainly forgotten.


    Old enough to realise that there is nothing more boring than watching other peoples homemovies about their children who do "incredible" things.
  • 2 Hide
    travish82 , May 15, 2013 2:12 PM
    I think I'm done with technology until batteries advance. As it stands now, my smartphone has to sit on the charger for half the day, and it looks like these glasses are no different. The only battery powered tech I own that's worth a crap is my eInk Kindle Touch. EVERYTHING else should last a month on one charge. I'm not kidding. Make this happen. You can have all the money I have if you give me a month long cell phone battery. Otherwise, keep your garbage outta my face.
  • 1 Hide
    AnUnusedUsername , May 15, 2013 7:56 PM
    travish82I think I'm done with technology until batteries advance. As it stands now, my smartphone has to sit on the charger for half the day, and it looks like these glasses are no different. The only battery powered tech I own that's worth a crap is my eInk Kindle Touch. EVERYTHING else should last a month on one charge. I'm not kidding. Make this happen. You can have all the money I have if you give me a month long cell phone battery. Otherwise, keep your garbage outta my face.


    The average $15 "dumb" phone will last a week or more on one charge, just FYI.
  • -1 Hide
    morpheas768 , May 15, 2013 10:08 PM
    So, even when you're walking on a street where there's no street camera's on, you'll still wont feel safe because of Glass creepers everywhere.

    As if our privacy wasnt intruded enough every day.

    Yes, I am a hater. You can flame me, I dont care. Google Glass needs to die.
  • -1 Hide
    Gulli , May 16, 2013 6:32 AM
    Not convinced: talking to your glasses and flipping your head backwards to shift through files is ridiculous and annoying. Better wait until something like a neural interface is available.

    P.S. This thing needs a guarantee against ads (especially popups, which couls kill you if you are walking on a busy street). Even then I think of the poor souls who get recorded on video against their will with no way to know if your glass is on.
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