My fascination with Google Glass continues. Is it going to become something that we can’t live without or is it destined to go the way of the Segway where it’s only used by mall cops? Only time will tell but until we know for sure I’m determined to keep tabs on all the comings and goings with an occassional round up of all the breaking news surrounding it. Here’s a look at the first such attempt to make sense of everything that’s been happening:
It has begun!!
“Prototypes of the new devices – which can take pictures or videos of what the wearer is seeing, and display information in a small screen visible to them above their right eye – are now out for testing with about a thousand early users worldwide. Google has suggested they may go on sale some time next year.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/apr/30/google-glass-pictures-online
They even have their first app already courtesy of the New York Times!
“Features include breaking-news alerts and hourly news updates, and you can navigate stories and photos by tilting your head up. You can also tap to have the app read article summaries to you.”
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57581514-93/new-york-times-launches-google-glass-app/
And you can even use it to tweet!
“More evidence that supports the official Twitter app theory is that the account that tweeted the image, @MoGroothMuddler (which has since been deleted), bears a significant resemblance to Twitter mobile engineering manager Shiv Ramamurthi, who tweets from the handle @MoGrooth.”
But is it weird?
“Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt has been playing with his company’s new combination glasses and mobile computer and said he finds the experience a little weird.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/25/us-google-harvard-idUSBRE93O1FF20130425?feedType=RSS
And more importantly is it bad for you?
“Google has a pretty strongly-worded warning for potential wearers under the Glass FAQ section (emphasis added):
Glass isn’t for everyone.
Like when wearing glasses, some people may feel eye strain or get a headache. If you’ve had Lasik surgery, ask your doctor about risks of eye impact damage before using Glass. Don’t let children under 13 use Glass as it could harm developing vision. Also, kids might break Glass or hurt themselves, and Google’s terms of service don’t permit those under 13 to register a Google account. If Glass is not for you and you wish to return it, do so before the end of the applicable refund period.”
http://gizmodo.com/is-google-glass-bad-for-your-eyes-484466332
Or is it something that you can’t live without? Robert Scoble sure seems to think so.
“I will never live a day of my life from now on without it (or a competitor). It’s that significant.”
“You put it on and you’re like ‘Oh my God, I have the entire internet in my vision. Where have you been all my life?”
http://www.businessinsider.com/marc-andreessen-on-google-glass-2013-4
But not everyone agrees.
“In order to write emails or text messages with Google Glass, you dictate words. The device is pleasantly reliable at transcribing things you say … unless you happen to have a foul mouth. In that case, it’ll make what you say “safe for work,” even if you don’t want to be censored.”
Regardless of what you think though there are a lot of people looking to improve it.
“A group of Silicon Valley heavyweights have formed an investment group specifically designed to support startups inspired by Google Glass, opening the Google gadget up to a range of new possibilities.”
Leave a Reply