Google's Project Glass

[Teleport]

Project Glass is a research into "augmented reality head mounted display", which is basically the world, visually modified. Google's "glasses" are just like normal glasses, except they have no lens, rather they have a smart-phone based, hand free device attached to the upper left frame of the glass.

Its purpose is mainly to allow users to interact with the world through the glasses, by voice commands issued to the glass. A basic command, as shown in Google's "How it Feels" video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1uyQZNg2vE) would be "ok glass, record a video" or "ok glass, take a picture". But its functions are not limited to just the two mentioned. Users can also browse the internet for specific items, share their moments, access common information like weather details, flight information, get directions and much more.

Applications for "explorers" (a term used by the projects staff to depict a person using the glass) have begun. A person can simple tweet their application or share it on Google+. More information regarding on the specific application requirements can be seen on the project's site " http://www.google.com/glass/start/ ".

Is it good? Will it revolutionize our way of viewing our world? Or will it just be another source of revenue for Google? Or will it even work at all?

In my opinion, it is both beneficial as well as harmful. If used in a wrong sense, f.e. browsing the internet during work time can be useful, if the the user is searching for work related material, however if the person is doodling around, it is not that useful. Regarding the source of revenue, Google has stated that there will be no ads on the glasses. (Woo!) The Times Magazine has also recognized it as one of best inventions of 2012.

However, this gadget does come with a price tag. Those selected for the trial version will have to pre-order the glasses at USD 1500 + taxes. Is that too high? or is it worth the price?

What do you guys think?

[Destroy666]

1. Do they influence the sight and eye condition?
2. Will governement/police allow using them while driving vehicle? If not, I can't see the usefulness of the navigation. If yes, I'm sure there is gonna be an increase of accidents.
3. Are they stabile on the head? And made of good materiał so if they had fallen they wouldn't have broken?
4. I don't like using voice detection.
5. Agree on the doodling in work.
6. They look weird on peoples faces, at least on the pictures I saw earlier. Made them a bit cyborg-like. But yeah, the world is developing fastly so... maybe in few years we'll have devices all over our bodies.

Taking those points in consideration, I think it's a bit too much for now. Can't imagine using such device and people walking around me with it.
Also some kids can't bind their shoes but can use smartphones atm, is that what the world wants to achieve with huge and darting computerisation?

[Teleport]

I do not know about the first point, however governments and police have allowed the use of Voice GPS navigation, which in my terms is more likely to cause accidents as hearing another speak is more distracting that hearing myself speak for me. Since, there are no lenses, and the frames are build most likely from plastic, I doubt there is much to break. However if it does somehow become defective, it will be much costlier than breaking a normal pair of glasses. About the stability, if normal glasses don't fall off your head, then chances are that it won't fall of either. I think they are based on the same principles.

I too have not been a big fan of voice detection as sometimes (most times?) it won't recognize my voices because of my slight accent. That has led to big complications ( fe-phoned my teacher, while I was meant to phone a friend and I talked to the teacher in a way I would talk to my friend, which resulted in me getting lower grades).

To be honest, I think they rather look good, however everyone does have their own view points. If we look at some glasses, they are just terrible to look at.

On second thoughts to my original post, I believe that there is not much use to it. For example, one would not use it at family dinners or in business meetings. For most of the things, such as video recording, you could always flick out your phone/camera and record. For viewing news, I would prefer a tablet/laptop if I'm on the go, or a computer if I'm at home. With the advancement of smart phones available to majority of the population I do not find any extra reasons to go for the glasses, rather than to record videos, the way you see the world. But since, I like Google, I would buy it if it came to Hong Kong.