4 ms·

Someone in a Reddit comment coined the term 'glasshole', likely in reference to the type who walk around with the bluetooth piece talking loudly about 'importan

Someone in a Reddit comment coined the term 'glasshole', likely in reference to the type who walk around with the bluetooth piece talking loudly about 'important' things. For those who have seen the film Children of Men, there's a scene in there of a young man in a nice apartment who is playing video games on a strange, futuristic headset which, if I remember correctly, somewhat resembled Glass. He looked like he had psychological problems. We're getting closer and closer to Surrogates/Gamer/Sleep Dealer/etc, something I'm not excited about at all.

taopao 14y ago
Have you stepped outside recently and seen just how many people are stooped over a smartphone? We're living in that reality right now, only people are developing neck problems doing it.
- avenger123 14y ago
  It's the trend for even further individualization in society. We are already as a society less communal and having another device that is even more always on, gives us even less reason to interact with our fellow human beings.
mediocregopher 14y ago
Gargoyle from Snow Crash also comes to mind. I don't yet know if this is a bad thing or just another stage in the way humans live our lives, but it's definitely going to be interesting.
endtime 14y ago
I downvoted you, because your entire comment is predicated on the fallacy of generalization from fictional evidence, and what I'll call "argument by pithiness".
- waterlesscloud 14y ago
  I upvoted him for exhibiting what I call "argument by imagination".
- personlurking 14y ago
  Very well, but imagine Glass at its potential. And now compare that with the images in such films (fictional as they may be) where people are shown just loafing around all day and night, doing nothing but interacting with their headset because everything (minus nourishment) can be attained via their headset.
- untog 14y ago
  I think there is ample evidence that the technology made available to use in recent years (Bluetooth headsets being a great example) have been used in ways that tend to annoy people. I think it's at least a valid argument that Glass might exacerbate that.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
blhack 14y ago
I find this mentality so, so strange to see, especially coming from what I assume are fellow engineers/programmers. We're at a time where almost literally every single book every written is with me in my pocket everywhere that I go, as well as every piece of music ever recorded, and every film ever made. I have the world's largest library, bigger than anything that the Greeks or Egyptians could have even dreamed, and I carry it with me, every day, in my pocket; most of the people I know do too! We're all constant patrons to humanity's most complete and largest collection of art and information. And now this library is being made even more available to me. I can immediately call up the sum of human history just by glancing in my peripheral... ...and this scares you? You don't like it? Is this fear? Certainly there will be assholes. One of the saddest things I saw last year was people at burning man constantly hiding behind a gopro or other camera, and I called them out on it constantly "be here with me! Don't hide behind that lens!" etc. But these people have existed forever. There has always been cameras. And for distractions there has almost always been books. The glass isn't "new" in that sense, it's just better.
- personlurking 14y ago
  While I don't deny the huge advances you mention, what scares me is what will eventually become the mainstream use case for the device. Given, I don't know what that use case will be but I'm pretty sure it will not improve human interaction. As for your assumption re:engineers/programmers, I am just a full-time lover of tech news and a part-time cynic of where what I read will take us.
- untog 14y ago
  I don't think the OP ever said they were scared. Not liking it and being scared of it are quite different things. In the same way that these technologies have made data access easier, they've made being a rude asshole easier. There have never been more ways to not pay attention to the person talking to you, and to put a digital wall between you and the people you are supposed to be interacting with. Information has existed forever. Tech makes it more accessible. Assholes have existed forever, but tech introduces brand new ways to be an asshole.
- waterlesscloud 14y ago
personlurking 14y ago
Giving credit where credit is due. The Reddit user who coined the term I mentioned was hoikarnage, under the "A first look at Google Glass' UI" video posted the other day.

taopao 14y ago

Have you stepped outside recently and seen just how many people are stooped over a smartphone? We're living in that reality right now, only people are developing neck problems doing it.

avenger123 14y ago
It's the trend for even further individualization in society. We are already as a society less communal and having another device that is even more always on, gives us even less reason to interact with our fellow human beings.

mediocregopher 14y ago

Gargoyle from Snow Crash also comes to mind. I don't yet know if this is a bad thing or just another stage in the way humans live our lives, but it's definitely going to be interesting.

endtime 14y ago

I downvoted you, because your entire comment is predicated on the fallacy of generalization from fictional evidence, and what I'll call "argument by pithiness".

waterlesscloud 14y ago
I upvoted him for exhibiting what I call "argument by imagination".
personlurking 14y ago
Very well, but imagine Glass at its potential. And now compare that with the images in such films (fictional as they may be) where people are shown just loafing around all day and night, doing nothing but interacting with their headset because everything (minus nourishment) can be attained via their headset.
untog 14y ago
I think there is ample evidence that the technology made available to use in recent years (Bluetooth headsets being a great example) have been used in ways that tend to annoy people. I think it's at least a valid argument that Glass might exacerbate that.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

blhack 14y ago

I find this mentality so, so strange to see, especially coming from what I assume are fellow engineers/programmers. We're at a time where almost literally every single book every written is with me in my pocket everywhere that I go, as well as every piece of music ever recorded, and every film ever made. I have the world's largest library, bigger than anything that the Greeks or Egyptians could have even dreamed, and I carry it with me, every day, in my pocket; most of the people I know do too! We're all constant patrons to humanity's most complete and largest collection of art and information. And now this library is being made even more available to me. I can immediately call up the sum of human history just by glancing in my peripheral... ...and this scares you? You don't like it? Is this fear? Certainly there will be assholes. One of the saddest things I saw last year was people at burning man constantly hiding behind a gopro or other camera, and I called them out on it constantly "be here with me! Don't hide behind that lens!" etc. But these people have existed forever. There has always been cameras. And for distractions there has almost always been books. The glass isn't "new" in that sense, it's just better.

personlurking 14y ago
While I don't deny the huge advances you mention, what scares me is what will eventually become the mainstream use case for the device. Given, I don't know what that use case will be but I'm pretty sure it will not improve human interaction. As for your assumption re:engineers/programmers, I am just a full-time lover of tech news and a part-time cynic of where what I read will take us.
untog 14y ago
I don't think the OP ever said they were scared. Not liking it and being scared of it are quite different things. In the same way that these technologies have made data access easier, they've made being a rude asshole easier. There have never been more ways to not pay attention to the person talking to you, and to put a digital wall between you and the people you are supposed to be interacting with. Information has existed forever. Tech makes it more accessible. Assholes have existed forever, but tech introduces brand new ways to be an asshole.
waterlesscloud 14y ago

personlurking 14y ago

Giving credit where credit is due. The Reddit user who coined the term I mentioned was hoikarnage, under the "A first look at Google Glass' UI" video posted the other day.