Looking Through Google Glass: A Research Project

 Google Glass Explorer Edition by Tedeytan CC BY-SA

Google Glass seems to be a new, exciting and revolutionary piece of technology. Even if you are a casual internet user, you probably have heard of Google's new augmented-reality wearable eye display. The YouTube concept video “One Day"  announced its coming on April 4, 2012 and has been viewed more than 18 million times. It's generated a very exciting buzz around social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Google's own, Google Plus. 

Now with a mainstream audience in place and a cultural backing, Google has recently released the eyewear to a couple thousand people including developers. If the masses buy in to all the hype then Glass will revolutionize the way we think and interact with computers.

Think of Glass as a head-mounted smart phone that can record video, take pictures and perform small tasks via your own voice with a transparent Heads-Up Display (HUD) worn over one eye. Some skeptics are not impressed as they don't believe it's a true augmented reality system, however I am quite impressed as it holds the torch for wearable technology in what could mean yet another massive culture shift.

I personally welcome this new technology and think it marks an exciting time in human history. The stereotypical view of the future seems to be finally falling in place as the streets start to looks more and more like a Sci Fi flick or a George Orwell novel. I'm truly admiring the plethora of #throughglass photos on +Google+ and feel like I'm exploring right along with them.

One in particular I've been following is +Robert Warren who is a vigilant Glass adventurer and family man. He has been on a tireless crusade sharing some of the most beautiful photos through his Google issued display. If you are are not already following Robert then you're missing out on an opportunity to not only explore his world through glass, but also to interact with a wonderful, polite and helpful person. If I were to direct you to a list of top Glass Explorers then Robert would be right at the top of the list.

Avid Glass Explorer +Robert Warren 

Though Glass is very new, there are already questions of personal privacy issue implications. There doesn't seem to be any way of knowing when you are being recorded by the mounted camera so it would be very easy to record data and send it to the highest bidder. I'm not saying that the current foray of Glass Explorers would use them for ill intentions but when the display reaches consumer level, it begins to impose a whole new set of implications.

Google has not yet issued a privacy policy on the product as it is still in early stages and laws have not yet caught up to these privacy concerns. For example, in the United States, law enforcement has the rights to some cellular data even without a search warrant. We have also seen in recent headlines of police ticketing an explorer because they believed her view was obstructed -- which the law already has covered.

If millions are wearing these headsets, then what exactly does Google get to do with this information? All the information will be located in the "cloud" which makes it easy for third party companies to grab and the fact that the data exists in the cloud puts it within the reach of third parties.

Current U.S. statutes allow law enforcement access to e-mail and cell phone records under certain circumstances without a search warrant. Governments in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom are seeking to expand their electronic monitoring powers.

Regardless of these implications Google is ready to press on and unveil a refined consumer version of Glass in 2014 and based on all the hysteria surrounding these eye-glasses, I expect users to jump on board and fork out their hard earned money, even if it means giving up yet a little more privacy in our ever-changing digital world.

I know I will be.

Please note that this is my own personal research project and I do not yet have real hands-on experience with Glass Technology. I hope to acquire these specs in the future so I can enhance my knowledge on the product and further study it's role on how it fits in with humans and the planet.

References

Ackerman, E (2013). Google Gets In Your Face: Google Glass Offers A Slightly Augmented Version Of Reality. Spectrum IEEE (Vol 50 Issue 1) 26-29.

Pedersen, I. & Trueman, D. (2013). "Sergey Brin is Batman": google's project glass and the instigation of computer adoption in popular culture. CHI EA '13  2089-2098.