CNET has an interesting article about a PR man named Chris Barrett who is one of Google's many Glass Explorer edition wearers. According to Barrett, wearing Glass for long periods of time gives him a headache, and apparently he's not alone.
Barrett joined the Explorer Program in June 2013, but he hasn't worn the wearable tech since January 1. He said that on the first day he was wearing Glass all day long, taking them everywhere including the mall, to Starbucks, while driving and more. On the second day of use, he started getting a pounding headache after a few hours. Typically, he doesn't get headaches.
A few weeks later, he suffered through another headache after wearing Glass for eight straight hours each day. At the time, he was being filmed by a Korean documentary film crew. The headache was so bad that he went home and slept it off. For someone who didn't get headaches, this wasn't normal.
Convinced that prolonged use of Glass causes headaches, he logged into the private Google Glass community site to see if anyone else was complaining. He discovered that one guy was getting them because he was forced to wear Glass high up on his nose in order to see the bottom of the screen. Others also reported discomfort when looking toward the right corner of Glass.
"Of course health and safety are extremely important to the Glass team, and we've been working with eye care professionals from the very beginning to ensure that the device is safe for use. In our help center, we do encourage new Explorers to ease into Glass, just as they would a new pair of glasses," a Google rep told CNET.
Unfortunately, the headaches brought on another problem: disinterest. Because he limited his usage, Barrett has discovered that he doesn't miss the glasses; he has no real need to use them. The Explorer specs sit on his desk every day, but he just doesn't feel compelled to use them. He has a smartphone and laptop that does everything he needs.
"I think there should be a warning that comes with Glass; that if you start to get a headache, you should limit your use," he told CNET. "Not everybody who wears Glass will make the connection, especially people who are prone to headaches. I can't imagine the effect Glass could have on migraine sufferers or those with other neurological conditions.”
