8 ms·

I’m a Google Glass skeptic and think it’ll be the next Apple Newton

64 points by andrew_null 14y ago

tawgx 14y ago
I'm actually a big believer in Glass. In my mind getting the average person to use them is actually simpler than it was to get them to use a cell phone. Everybody has sunglasses and they're used to wearing them (even indoors). With phones it was a complete new paradigm. People weren't used to carrying a phone with them and most didn't feel they needed to, and we saw how that went. As for pricing and design, 6 years ago phones were expensive bricks and look how far they've come. I feel the same about wearable computing and glasses especially.
- testing12341234 14y ago
  Everybody had sunglasses and they're used to wearing them (even indoors) A quick quiz of the people in my office shows that: 0% were wearing sunglasses inside at the time of asking ~7% said they wear sunglasses inside on a regular basis ~25% said they do not own sunglasses I don't dispute the other points you make, but on this issue it seems you are a bit bubbled/optimistic.
- untog 14y ago
  But you're talking about why people would accept them, not why they'd want them. Right now I don't see any killer application for them, but I'm sure that will change in time.
- lttlrck 14y ago
  Having spent a few pennies getting LASIK done, I can't wait we wear Google Glass for that retro-look.
- rimantas 14y ago
  Sunglases are for blocking excesive light, not for displaying distracting informatino all the time.
sp332 14y ago
Here’s my list of what people are doing on Google Glass: (12 boring things) The point is you don't have to look away from where you are or make the people you're with feel ignored just to do a simple thing like checking the time. Glancing at a clock on the wall is less disruptive to a conversation than digging your phone out of your pocket.
- ry0ohki 14y ago
  With the exception of the time, you need to use a voice command for everything else (as far as I can tell)... so i'm not sure being less disruptive is the primary use case.
  - authorityaction 14y ago
    There is a touch pad on the side and it could possibly support some gesture based input.
    - ry0ohki 14y ago
      Also not very unobtrusive... "Don't mind me, I'm definitely paying attention to you, while rubbing my temple furiously"
      - angryasian 14y ago
        how is it different from currently looking at a phone or watch ? Just take them off if you don't want someone to feel uncomfortable.
        ry0ohki 14y ago
        It's not, that's my point. OP was saying this is revolutionary because it's less obtrusive then checking your phone and I'm saying it's equally or more obtrusive.
        14y ago
cykod 14y ago
I think he means it's going to be the next Google Nexus Q http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nexus_Q http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nexus_Q
- Samuel_Michon 14y ago
  Haha, or the next Google Wave? Google TV? Google Buzz? Orkut?
kiba 14y ago
Rather thank think Google glasses is going to replace your phone, you should think of it as complementary.
27182818284 14y ago
It is true that list sucks, but as soon as you start to think about a possible SDK, both laymen and professionals can start imagining really neat stuff. In a phone call with a friend we realized after citing a litany of good ideas that really what it came down to was that it would allow for a heads up display of everything. Don't know where to go? It will help. Need to find gluten free foods, activate that app and just hold up the items you're looking at. Cooking and need your hands free? Great! Increment through the recipes steps with simple voice commands.(I know the article mentions voice sucking, but I've actually been quite happy with Google's transcription and for simple commands like 'Next' it will be doubly fine.)
kunai 14y ago
The question isn't really with use cases, it's about practicality. Having instant access to what you do most of the time with a smartphone is practical. People certainly will appreciate that; it doesn't matter if the use cases are limited in nature. Of course, the price is too high for what it offers right now, but it's kind of like the Pixel: a vision of the future that can be attained relatively easily for anyone with the dough. It's not going to be an ephemeral flop like the Newton was; I foresee it being a major influence on other devices. The Newton wasn't like this -- PDAs were already being developed at the time. So far, we've seen nothing like Glass. It's a milestone. So it will take time, and it is a paradox to have two devices that do the same thing connected to each other, but Glass is only going to spur a big change. The Newton did not.
- samatman 14y ago
  How quickly time passes ^_^ The Newton was a major influence on the PalmPilot, particularly as the platform where Graffiti was developed. Granted, that line of product is functionally extinct as of the smartphone, but it had a good run.
- taligent 14y ago
  The Pixel is nothing more than a featureless MacBook with a fixed web browser. If you think that is the future then you're in for a rude shock. And you seem to be obsessed with the future and less concerned with reality. People don't need to check email, weather, time, ask questions so frequently that they need a fixed device on their head.
  - xaa 14y ago
    20 years ago, a skeptic might have said, "People don't make phone calls often enough to need to carry around phones with them." The technology can affect usage patterns as well as the reverse.
  - kunai 14y ago
    You may see the device as "nothing more than a featureless MacBook with a fixed web browser", but I see a future of computing -- a thin client with an ultra-crisp display and great industrial design. Like it or not, the cloud is the future. The Pixel is a glimpse of that.
devindotcom 14y ago
I really don't think of this generation of Glass (including the cheaper, better version to come later this year) as a real consumer product. It will be available to consumers, sure, but so were MP3 players in 1997. I personally was pumped about MP3-CD players and still dipped into my cassette collection. I think Glass is ahead of the market, but is more high-profile than, say, a Rio or something was back in the day, simply because Google is hyping it to the moon. I'm certainly skeptical about how successful Glass will be in the next year or two, but not about the wearable, low-profile device market altogether.
cryptoz 14y ago
> Most of these are basically simple things you can already do on your phone- checking the weather Ha! I'm very, very excited about Glass for the weather opportunities, actually. The data collection that Glass will offer with regards to the weather is going to be incredible. With a simple app that pings outside Glass wearers, I'll be able to automatically gather incredible amounts of valuable weather data. I'm doing this on phones right now, too, of course [1]. But Glass opens up whole new doors that the author of this post is completely missing. Author, if you're reading this: You're making the assumption that nobody will innovate, nobody will build anything new that would provide unique value to the device. You're wrong. [1]: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.cumulonimbus.barometernetwork https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.cumulonimbu...
- PanMan 14y ago
  How would this work, assuming Glass doesn't have a air-pressure sensor? That's the main thing you are using now, right? Would you ask people to take pics of the sky? What does Glass add that currently isn't possible WRT gathering data? Serious question.
  - cryptoz 14y ago
    Those are excellent questions. I obviously hope Glass has a barometer but I highly doubt it will, since it is likely going to use phones to handle GPS and similar operations. So assuming it doesn't have one: > Would you ask people to take pics of the sky? Yeah, maybe. I'll add more to that below. > What does Glass add that currently isn't possible WRT gathering data? Since we don't know the hardware specs in very much detail, the only functionality that we know for sure that will be helpful is the camera. The key difference between this camera and a phone camera is that this one is on the user's head. Asking users to take sky photos is likely much less intrusive through Glass than through a phone. But asking them to do this isn't really our style: The original Glass demo video showed the wearer just looking at the sky in order to have weather information delivered [1]. I was imagining something like this for pressureNET. If I could hook into that same operation, I'd be able to automatically take a photo of the sky whenever the user intentionally looks up. Imagine millions of people every day looking at the sky. So. Much. Data. And of course, this is only using the camera that we know is there. We'll have to learn more about how Glass actually works and what developers will be allowed to access in terms of background functionality. [1]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W4CCU9M4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W4CCU9M4
doktrin 14y ago
I have similar leanings. I may own Glass v1 and develop for it as a hobby, but I doubt I will have it replace any functionality which I currently rely on other devices for. However, I'm incredibly excited about the technology and what it means for the future of personal / wearable computing.
loeschg 14y ago
In case anyone else was wondering what the heck the Apple Newton was/is -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_(platform) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_(platform)
vicbrooker 14y ago
In regards to the author's skepticism with using voice input, we had a bit of a theory running in a HN previous thread that Glass will measure sound vibrations of your skull to accurately work out what you're saying. Similar tech has been used in some headsets for years to create a fairly accurate speaker that, when I used it at least, was whisper sensitive. From what I remember nobody knew if the tech was 'reversible' in the sense it could be used as a mic but I guess it's theoretically possible. I hope this, or another suitably accurate replacement, is used in Glass. I'll be really disappointed otherwise.
- astrodust 14y ago
  The Newton was a hilariously heavy and clunky device that made you look like you were gunning for a position in Starfleet. In that era, nobody had a PDA except Newton people and even notebook computers were cripplingly expensive, so having one made you part of a fairly elite group. At the time, the Newton was ridiculed for it's less than accurate handwriting recognition. It was a touch-stone for comedy, where shows like Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons would find endless potential. Google Glass should be so lucky as to have this kind of presence. If anything, it's destined to be the Nintendo VirtualBoy.
- angryasian 14y ago
  it has a touchpad, theres no need to voice everything.
Cowen 14y ago
> The state of the art on voice input, frankly, really sucks on both Android and iOS. Have you tried to compose a message that wasn’t “ok” or “coming home” via voice? Especially in a noisy cafe or on the bus? Just yesterday I had a long conversation via IM with my girlfriend using only Android's voice input while I was walking down loud, crowded NYC streets. And the commands for Google Voice won't be much longer than "ok" or "coming home" anyway. Commands are literally "Ok, Glass, <short command>"
- squidsoup 14y ago
  Every time I've tried speaking to Siri through my headphones which have a built-in mic, I've always feel like a bit of a nob. I don't live in a crowded city however. Is this becoming more socially acceptable in large cities, or at least so commonplace that people ignore it? I feel like where I live people would probably assume someone walking down the street talking to themselves is schizophrenic.
  - Cowen 14y ago
    I unconsciously talk to myself even without a phone in sight, so I'm used to looking like a nob in that sense. :) But in this case, I was clearly talking into a phone even though I wasn't always holding it at my ear. And I think in most large American cities (certainly New York, at the very least) ignoring strange people on the street is about as natural as breathing.
  - underwires 14y ago
    People definitely talk on headphones and headsets like they are schizophrenic in san francisco, but I've never caught anyone giving voice commands that way.
  - angryasian 14y ago
    comparing siri to google is the first misconception. Second people already do with bluetooth. Is it really different ?
    - 14y ago
sigzero 14y ago
Maybe so. Sometimes an item like Google Glass comes to light and then dies but there are things that are learned or ideas seeded from it that makes it well worth the effort.
ebbv 14y ago
I've tweeted a bunch of times about how stupid I think Google Glass is, and I don't know anybody in real life who will admit to wanting one. But it sure seems to be exciting the people most vocal on the Internet. I know for a fact this won't see mainstream adoption, that's obvious. But whether Google will sell enough to the excitable people with no fashion sense to make a v2? That's hard to predict.
- jvrossb 14y ago
  What happens when they look the same as sunglasses or normal glasses? Fashion sense won't be as much of an issue.
  - ebbv 14y ago
    That's a distinct possibility, though I'm not sure that walking around talking to yourself will ever be cool.
    - MrJagil 14y ago
      Arn't you walking around talking to yourself (in a sense) when you're doing a hands-free call? I see that everyday...
      - ebbv 14y ago
        You are and it's really not cool. I never do that. I mean to each his own but blue tooth headsets, and especially talking on them in public are generally seen as douchey.
- nimblegorilla 14y ago
  Why would anyone not "want" one? I think the vast majority of my friends would think it was a cool toy to have when working on stuff. I agree that most people wouldn't be excited about wearing it all the time or paying the initial cost.
Karunamon 14y ago
For crying out loud, his entire article is predicated on the fact that the device costs $1500. This is true of the developer version only. It is a prerelease at that price. The final version is not going to cost $1500.
- alexgaribay 14y ago
  People seem to miss this point a lot when saying something about its current pricing.
- waterlesscloud 14y ago
  No, he specifically states that even at $500 his opinion still applies.
ericb 14y ago
#ifihadglass: I would use it to remember my life. I will wear it for a full day once to each different job, and each new house, and to significant events. Reminiscing will be sweeter, and my kids and grandkids can get a sense of who I was and how I lived my life. Does the author think cellphones would let me do this?
- Apocryphon 14y ago
  More pertinently, do you think everyone in your life would let you do this?
  - ericb 14y ago
    Good question. I think everyone in my house and on my commute would have no choice, and the people at work would be cool with it if I did it for a day. I don't need the whole day for it to be useful as a record of my life--just a short summary of my day would be cool.
- estebank 14y ago
  Even I when I got a geekgasm the first time (and second, and third...) I saw Glass, you have to keep in mind that there might be unintended social implications[1] with such a device. [1]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2089050/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2089050/ Black Mirror: The Entire History of You
garg 14y ago
I'm partially color blind and have made an app for personal use that lets me confirm whether or not a color is what I think it is. I will develop something like that for Google Glass as well whenever I get my hands on it. So, there are definitely use cases out there that aren't covered by the 12 point in that list in the article.
sputknick 14y ago
Every use case you mentioned was consumer oriented. I think where this product will excel is in manufacturing and logistics. Any function where you have to receive data then perform an action (or if you prefer: look at a screen then perform an action) will be much more efficient. Imagine if you could make factory workers even just 5% more efficient. That's $15 a day (assuming 3 shifts). The thing would pay for itself in less than a year. That's a conservative estimate, just a thought. I might be wrong, I haven't worked in manufacturing in 6 years.
taylodl 14y ago
The killer app segment for Google Glass is augmented reality - which is quite awkward on cell phones but natural on devices like Glass. It's also an application segment that hasn't received much mainstream attention. Check out some of the stuff companies like Metaio have been doing: http://www.metaio.com/ http://www.metaio.com/ (I'm not affiliated with Metaio, nor am I currently developing any augmented reality applications)
lukevdp 14y ago
One thing he didn't mention which I think fits in the same category is "how does it feel to look into a tiny screen above one eye?". In the demo videos it's shown as this all encompassing, easy to see, no squint required HUD. Is it really like that? If its a good experience, I can see voice control, lack of apps, price, etc, all being overcome. If it's a sucky experience, I think it's doomed
nostromo 14y ago
I'm reminded of a recent Apple patent: the iWatch. Both a watch and a screen on my glasses provide me with the convenience of an interface with my phone that is always visible. I like the iWatch for most use-cases better: changing a track while walking, seeing if I should answer my phone while at dinner, reading an SMS at a party. Google Glasses really excels in other use cases: directions while driving and GoPro video making. Other than that, I'm afraid it falls flat for the reasons listed in the article. If I had to bet on a winner between iWatch and Glass, I'd choose iWatch. For Google to win out, they need to focus on situations in which augmented reality is most useful, sending text messages isn't it.
- angryasian 14y ago
  here you are defending the watch but all the reasons he states apply to the watch as well. >Most of these are basically simple things you can already do on your phone Google glass has a trackpad on the side, for the cases you say are better on the watch, you don't even need to look down to accomplish with glass.
- r00fus 14y ago
  So Google Glass is really just useful when you're not interfacing with people. I can't get past the anti-social nature of the device - people already mistake my bluetooth headset for some sort of microphone that may be recording at all times - and that's unintentional as I just sometimes forget to take it off (it can rest on my collar) as it's still blinking and such. Something that invasive up by the eyes would make me feel like a complete pariah. Perhaps having on your "glass" would be equivalent to say, having a press hat - ie, you're on duty and publicizing the fact that someone could be googled at any moment or being recorded, etc.
ank286 14y ago
Google Glass has a processor. Processors give out heat. Google Glass will lead to sweaty eyebrows -- eww. How do you solve the heat issue when Google Glass is transmitting/querying images? Transistor sizing dissipates more and more heat.
- mowgles 14y ago
  This is definitely a problem, but I think it's an easier one to solve than the unknown effects of radiation (assuming some version of Glass has a 3G/4G antenna built in). If holding a cellphone to my ear makes me nervous, what makes you think I'm going to wear Glass around all day?
11001 14y ago
I don't think I will be comfortable having a conversation with anyone wearing GG. I don't want to constantly wonder whether or not I'm being recorded, or information about me is being sent to a business or a government. I want to know whether or not the person I am talking to is reading/seeing/hearing something else at the moment as well. As much as I would love to work on GG, I don't think I can ever accept people using it around me. It should never be a "social" gadget. Use it on your own all you want though.
mladenkovacevic 14y ago
I don't think Glass itself will be widely adopted, but it will get the ball rolling towards full-on, externally invisible, computer implants. These implants will not wait for your input to feed you information (although they will certainly have that ability too). Instead they will serve information as your environment and conversations demand. Having a conversation where someone asks "So how did WWI start anyways?", the answer will appear in front of you. Upon arriving at your local ski hill and telling your friends "Ok let me to take a leak first and then we'll hit the slopes" your invisible assistant would instantly give you directions to the bathroom and queue up he directions to the ski-lifts. This will be cool on an individual basis, but imagine if everyone had their "invisi-Glass". While having a conversation with someone your implants would sync up, showing both of you information as it relates to your dialogue. While basically eliminating awkward pauses, it will also act as a kind of NFT (Near Field Telepathy)
- philwelch 14y ago
  The implant will be supported by advertising. You will see banner ads in your field of vision continuously. And as another bit of advertising, it will broadcast this out loud if you ever meet someone without an implant: "We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."
  - mladenkovacevic 14y ago
    Why would you advertise to the Borg? I think they make very poor consumers.
junto 14y ago
I think you are spot on with analysis. Here is my take: Apple will 're-invent' it in ten years time and market it to us all for $1500 as a luxury product that all Apple nuts will be a 'have to have' product. Google will then release Google Glass+ two years later, which is free, but advertises products and services to you based on where you are and what you look at constantly 24-7. Wired will then publish an article that states how often men really look at women's breasts, because Google released anonymous data usage of Google Glass+ LiveStreetView (I claim the inventor's rights to this btw). Microsoft will come late to the party with Microsoft 'Goggles', which confuses everyone, because although looks good, everyone thinks must be crap, because Microsoft released it. Steve Balmer finally retires. Everyone in Microsoft breaths a sigh of relief. Nix guys are just laughing their heads off. They've had retinal implants for 5 years and record everything to their private clouds. Insurers start to demand that all people wear a Glass Recorder for insurance purposes, and before you know it, all recordings legally have to be saved by the government to prevent terrorism. Future looks rosy through those rose tinted spectacles... Count me out.
- angryasian 14y ago
  theres not one piece of advertising on Android devices, not credible.
codeboost 14y ago
I think Glass plus a smartwatch is the way to go. This way the Glass can be controlled from the watch using touch and voice commands.
stcredzero 14y ago
I think the only way an executive or VIP would use Google Glass in primarily social situations would be to have a personal assistant who is wearing one. If someone is in a highly technical situation, where the primary focus isn't other people, but technology or architecture, then I could see a lot of applications for augmented reality through such a device. I can envision teams of several to a dozen people in a virtual reality supporting one or two people wearing Google Glass in the field or on a business trip. The fields of vision of the Glass wearers would be shown as "screens" floating in a virtual reality, so that the support staff wouldn't get nauseated from having their vision entrained to the POV of the field Glass wearers.
LeeHunter 14y ago
Might be incredibly useful for the police, military, and anyone else who needs a heads up display for messaging and information capture. For the rest of us, no. Just no. You will never see me hanging out with anyone who has a camera pointed at my face at all times.

64 points by andrew_null 14y ago

tawgx 14y ago

I'm actually a big believer in Glass. In my mind getting the average person to use them is actually simpler than it was to get them to use a cell phone. Everybody has sunglasses and they're used to wearing them (even indoors). With phones it was a complete new paradigm. People weren't used to carrying a phone with them and most didn't feel they needed to, and we saw how that went. As for pricing and design, 6 years ago phones were expensive bricks and look how far they've come. I feel the same about wearable computing and glasses especially.

testing12341234 14y ago
Everybody had sunglasses and they're used to wearing them (even indoors) A quick quiz of the people in my office shows that: 0% were wearing sunglasses inside at the time of asking ~7% said they wear sunglasses inside on a regular basis ~25% said they do not own sunglasses I don't dispute the other points you make, but on this issue it seems you are a bit bubbled/optimistic.
untog 14y ago
But you're talking about why people would accept them, not why they'd want them. Right now I don't see any killer application for them, but I'm sure that will change in time.
lttlrck 14y ago
Having spent a few pennies getting LASIK done, I can't wait we wear Google Glass for that retro-look.
rimantas 14y ago
Sunglases are for blocking excesive light, not for displaying distracting informatino all the time.

sp332 14y ago

Here’s my list of what people are doing on Google Glass: (12 boring things) The point is you don't have to look away from where you are or make the people you're with feel ignored just to do a simple thing like checking the time. Glancing at a clock on the wall is less disruptive to a conversation than digging your phone out of your pocket.

ry0ohki 14y ago
With the exception of the time, you need to use a voice command for everything else (as far as I can tell)... so i'm not sure being less disruptive is the primary use case.
- authorityaction 14y ago
  There is a touch pad on the side and it could possibly support some gesture based input.
  - ry0ohki 14y ago
    Also not very unobtrusive... "Don't mind me, I'm definitely paying attention to you, while rubbing my temple furiously"
    - angryasian 14y ago
      how is it different from currently looking at a phone or watch ? Just take them off if you don't want someone to feel uncomfortable.
      - ry0ohki 14y ago
        It's not, that's my point. OP was saying this is revolutionary because it's less obtrusive then checking your phone and I'm saying it's equally or more obtrusive.
        14y ago

cykod 14y ago

I think he means it's going to be the next Google Nexus Q http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nexus_Q http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nexus_Q

Samuel_Michon 14y ago
Haha, or the next Google Wave? Google TV? Google Buzz? Orkut?

kiba 14y ago

Rather thank think Google glasses is going to replace your phone, you should think of it as complementary.

27182818284 14y ago

It is true that list sucks, but as soon as you start to think about a possible SDK, both laymen and professionals can start imagining really neat stuff. In a phone call with a friend we realized after citing a litany of good ideas that really what it came down to was that it would allow for a heads up display of everything. Don't know where to go? It will help. Need to find gluten free foods, activate that app and just hold up the items you're looking at. Cooking and need your hands free? Great! Increment through the recipes steps with simple voice commands.(I know the article mentions voice sucking, but I've actually been quite happy with Google's transcription and for simple commands like 'Next' it will be doubly fine.)

kunai 14y ago

The question isn't really with use cases, it's about practicality. Having instant access to what you do most of the time with a smartphone is practical. People certainly will appreciate that; it doesn't matter if the use cases are limited in nature. Of course, the price is too high for what it offers right now, but it's kind of like the Pixel: a vision of the future that can be attained relatively easily for anyone with the dough. It's not going to be an ephemeral flop like the Newton was; I foresee it being a major influence on other devices. The Newton wasn't like this -- PDAs were already being developed at the time. So far, we've seen nothing like Glass. It's a milestone. So it will take time, and it is a paradox to have two devices that do the same thing connected to each other, but Glass is only going to spur a big change. The Newton did not.

samatman 14y ago
How quickly time passes ^_^ The Newton was a major influence on the PalmPilot, particularly as the platform where Graffiti was developed. Granted, that line of product is functionally extinct as of the smartphone, but it had a good run.
taligent 14y ago
The Pixel is nothing more than a featureless MacBook with a fixed web browser. If you think that is the future then you're in for a rude shock. And you seem to be obsessed with the future and less concerned with reality. People don't need to check email, weather, time, ask questions so frequently that they need a fixed device on their head.
- xaa 14y ago
  20 years ago, a skeptic might have said, "People don't make phone calls often enough to need to carry around phones with them." The technology can affect usage patterns as well as the reverse.
- kunai 14y ago
  You may see the device as "nothing more than a featureless MacBook with a fixed web browser", but I see a future of computing -- a thin client with an ultra-crisp display and great industrial design. Like it or not, the cloud is the future. The Pixel is a glimpse of that.

devindotcom 14y ago

I really don't think of this generation of Glass (including the cheaper, better version to come later this year) as a real consumer product. It will be available to consumers, sure, but so were MP3 players in 1997. I personally was pumped about MP3-CD players and still dipped into my cassette collection. I think Glass is ahead of the market, but is more high-profile than, say, a Rio or something was back in the day, simply because Google is hyping it to the moon. I'm certainly skeptical about how successful Glass will be in the next year or two, but not about the wearable, low-profile device market altogether.

cryptoz 14y ago

> Most of these are basically simple things you can already do on your phone- checking the weather Ha! I'm very, very excited about Glass for the weather opportunities, actually. The data collection that Glass will offer with regards to the weather is going to be incredible. With a simple app that pings outside Glass wearers, I'll be able to automatically gather incredible amounts of valuable weather data. I'm doing this on phones right now, too, of course [1]. But Glass opens up whole new doors that the author of this post is completely missing. Author, if you're reading this: You're making the assumption that nobody will innovate, nobody will build anything new that would provide unique value to the device. You're wrong. [1]: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.cumulonimbus.barometernetwork https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.cumulonimbu...

PanMan 14y ago
How would this work, assuming Glass doesn't have a air-pressure sensor? That's the main thing you are using now, right? Would you ask people to take pics of the sky? What does Glass add that currently isn't possible WRT gathering data? Serious question.
- cryptoz 14y ago
  Those are excellent questions. I obviously hope Glass has a barometer but I highly doubt it will, since it is likely going to use phones to handle GPS and similar operations. So assuming it doesn't have one: > Would you ask people to take pics of the sky? Yeah, maybe. I'll add more to that below. > What does Glass add that currently isn't possible WRT gathering data? Since we don't know the hardware specs in very much detail, the only functionality that we know for sure that will be helpful is the camera. The key difference between this camera and a phone camera is that this one is on the user's head. Asking users to take sky photos is likely much less intrusive through Glass than through a phone. But asking them to do this isn't really our style: The original Glass demo video showed the wearer just looking at the sky in order to have weather information delivered [1]. I was imagining something like this for pressureNET. If I could hook into that same operation, I'd be able to automatically take a photo of the sky whenever the user intentionally looks up. Imagine millions of people every day looking at the sky. So. Much. Data. And of course, this is only using the camera that we know is there. We'll have to learn more about how Glass actually works and what developers will be allowed to access in terms of background functionality. [1]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W4CCU9M4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W4CCU9M4

doktrin 14y ago

I have similar leanings. I may own Glass v1 and develop for it as a hobby, but I doubt I will have it replace any functionality which I currently rely on other devices for. However, I'm incredibly excited about the technology and what it means for the future of personal / wearable computing.

loeschg 14y ago

In case anyone else was wondering what the heck the Apple Newton was/is -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_(platform) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_(platform)

vicbrooker 14y ago

In regards to the author's skepticism with using voice input, we had a bit of a theory running in a HN previous thread that Glass will measure sound vibrations of your skull to accurately work out what you're saying. Similar tech has been used in some headsets for years to create a fairly accurate speaker that, when I used it at least, was whisper sensitive. From what I remember nobody knew if the tech was 'reversible' in the sense it could be used as a mic but I guess it's theoretically possible. I hope this, or another suitably accurate replacement, is used in Glass. I'll be really disappointed otherwise.

astrodust 14y ago
The Newton was a hilariously heavy and clunky device that made you look like you were gunning for a position in Starfleet. In that era, nobody had a PDA except Newton people and even notebook computers were cripplingly expensive, so having one made you part of a fairly elite group. At the time, the Newton was ridiculed for it's less than accurate handwriting recognition. It was a touch-stone for comedy, where shows like Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons would find endless potential. Google Glass should be so lucky as to have this kind of presence. If anything, it's destined to be the Nintendo VirtualBoy.
angryasian 14y ago
it has a touchpad, theres no need to voice everything.

Cowen 14y ago

> The state of the art on voice input, frankly, really sucks on both Android and iOS. Have you tried to compose a message that wasn’t “ok” or “coming home” via voice? Especially in a noisy cafe or on the bus? Just yesterday I had a long conversation via IM with my girlfriend using only Android's voice input while I was walking down loud, crowded NYC streets. And the commands for Google Voice won't be much longer than "ok" or "coming home" anyway. Commands are literally "Ok, Glass, <short command>"

squidsoup 14y ago
Every time I've tried speaking to Siri through my headphones which have a built-in mic, I've always feel like a bit of a nob. I don't live in a crowded city however. Is this becoming more socially acceptable in large cities, or at least so commonplace that people ignore it? I feel like where I live people would probably assume someone walking down the street talking to themselves is schizophrenic.
- Cowen 14y ago
  I unconsciously talk to myself even without a phone in sight, so I'm used to looking like a nob in that sense. :) But in this case, I was clearly talking into a phone even though I wasn't always holding it at my ear. And I think in most large American cities (certainly New York, at the very least) ignoring strange people on the street is about as natural as breathing.
- underwires 14y ago
  People definitely talk on headphones and headsets like they are schizophrenic in san francisco, but I've never caught anyone giving voice commands that way.
- angryasian 14y ago
  comparing siri to google is the first misconception. Second people already do with bluetooth. Is it really different ?
  - 14y ago

sigzero 14y ago

Maybe so. Sometimes an item like Google Glass comes to light and then dies but there are things that are learned or ideas seeded from it that makes it well worth the effort.

ebbv 14y ago

I've tweeted a bunch of times about how stupid I think Google Glass is, and I don't know anybody in real life who will admit to wanting one. But it sure seems to be exciting the people most vocal on the Internet. I know for a fact this won't see mainstream adoption, that's obvious. But whether Google will sell enough to the excitable people with no fashion sense to make a v2? That's hard to predict.

jvrossb 14y ago
What happens when they look the same as sunglasses or normal glasses? Fashion sense won't be as much of an issue.
- ebbv 14y ago
  That's a distinct possibility, though I'm not sure that walking around talking to yourself will ever be cool.
  - MrJagil 14y ago
    Arn't you walking around talking to yourself (in a sense) when you're doing a hands-free call? I see that everyday...
    - ebbv 14y ago
      You are and it's really not cool. I never do that. I mean to each his own but blue tooth headsets, and especially talking on them in public are generally seen as douchey.
nimblegorilla 14y ago
Why would anyone not "want" one? I think the vast majority of my friends would think it was a cool toy to have when working on stuff. I agree that most people wouldn't be excited about wearing it all the time or paying the initial cost.

Karunamon 14y ago

For crying out loud, his entire article is predicated on the fact that the device costs $1500. This is true of the developer version only. It is a prerelease at that price. The final version is not going to cost $1500.

alexgaribay 14y ago
People seem to miss this point a lot when saying something about its current pricing.
waterlesscloud 14y ago
No, he specifically states that even at $500 his opinion still applies.

ericb 14y ago

#ifihadglass: I would use it to remember my life. I will wear it for a full day once to each different job, and each new house, and to significant events. Reminiscing will be sweeter, and my kids and grandkids can get a sense of who I was and how I lived my life. Does the author think cellphones would let me do this?

Apocryphon 14y ago
More pertinently, do you think everyone in your life would let you do this?
- ericb 14y ago
  Good question. I think everyone in my house and on my commute would have no choice, and the people at work would be cool with it if I did it for a day. I don't need the whole day for it to be useful as a record of my life--just a short summary of my day would be cool.
estebank 14y ago
Even I when I got a geekgasm the first time (and second, and third...) I saw Glass, you have to keep in mind that there might be unintended social implications[1] with such a device. [1]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2089050/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2089050/ Black Mirror: The Entire History of You

garg 14y ago

I'm partially color blind and have made an app for personal use that lets me confirm whether or not a color is what I think it is. I will develop something like that for Google Glass as well whenever I get my hands on it. So, there are definitely use cases out there that aren't covered by the 12 point in that list in the article.

sputknick 14y ago

Every use case you mentioned was consumer oriented. I think where this product will excel is in manufacturing and logistics. Any function where you have to receive data then perform an action (or if you prefer: look at a screen then perform an action) will be much more efficient. Imagine if you could make factory workers even just 5% more efficient. That's $15 a day (assuming 3 shifts). The thing would pay for itself in less than a year. That's a conservative estimate, just a thought. I might be wrong, I haven't worked in manufacturing in 6 years.

taylodl 14y ago

The killer app segment for Google Glass is augmented reality - which is quite awkward on cell phones but natural on devices like Glass. It's also an application segment that hasn't received much mainstream attention. Check out some of the stuff companies like Metaio have been doing: http://www.metaio.com/ http://www.metaio.com/ (I'm not affiliated with Metaio, nor am I currently developing any augmented reality applications)

lukevdp 14y ago

One thing he didn't mention which I think fits in the same category is "how does it feel to look into a tiny screen above one eye?". In the demo videos it's shown as this all encompassing, easy to see, no squint required HUD. Is it really like that? If its a good experience, I can see voice control, lack of apps, price, etc, all being overcome. If it's a sucky experience, I think it's doomed

nostromo 14y ago

I'm reminded of a recent Apple patent: the iWatch. Both a watch and a screen on my glasses provide me with the convenience of an interface with my phone that is always visible. I like the iWatch for most use-cases better: changing a track while walking, seeing if I should answer my phone while at dinner, reading an SMS at a party. Google Glasses really excels in other use cases: directions while driving and GoPro video making. Other than that, I'm afraid it falls flat for the reasons listed in the article. If I had to bet on a winner between iWatch and Glass, I'd choose iWatch. For Google to win out, they need to focus on situations in which augmented reality is most useful, sending text messages isn't it.

angryasian 14y ago
here you are defending the watch but all the reasons he states apply to the watch as well. >Most of these are basically simple things you can already do on your phone Google glass has a trackpad on the side, for the cases you say are better on the watch, you don't even need to look down to accomplish with glass.
r00fus 14y ago
So Google Glass is really just useful when you're not interfacing with people. I can't get past the anti-social nature of the device - people already mistake my bluetooth headset for some sort of microphone that may be recording at all times - and that's unintentional as I just sometimes forget to take it off (it can rest on my collar) as it's still blinking and such. Something that invasive up by the eyes would make me feel like a complete pariah. Perhaps having on your "glass" would be equivalent to say, having a press hat - ie, you're on duty and publicizing the fact that someone could be googled at any moment or being recorded, etc.

ank286 14y ago

Google Glass has a processor. Processors give out heat. Google Glass will lead to sweaty eyebrows -- eww. How do you solve the heat issue when Google Glass is transmitting/querying images? Transistor sizing dissipates more and more heat.

mowgles 14y ago
This is definitely a problem, but I think it's an easier one to solve than the unknown effects of radiation (assuming some version of Glass has a 3G/4G antenna built in). If holding a cellphone to my ear makes me nervous, what makes you think I'm going to wear Glass around all day?

11001 14y ago

I don't think I will be comfortable having a conversation with anyone wearing GG. I don't want to constantly wonder whether or not I'm being recorded, or information about me is being sent to a business or a government. I want to know whether or not the person I am talking to is reading/seeing/hearing something else at the moment as well. As much as I would love to work on GG, I don't think I can ever accept people using it around me. It should never be a "social" gadget. Use it on your own all you want though.

mladenkovacevic 14y ago

I don't think Glass itself will be widely adopted, but it will get the ball rolling towards full-on, externally invisible, computer implants. These implants will not wait for your input to feed you information (although they will certainly have that ability too). Instead they will serve information as your environment and conversations demand. Having a conversation where someone asks "So how did WWI start anyways?", the answer will appear in front of you. Upon arriving at your local ski hill and telling your friends "Ok let me to take a leak first and then we'll hit the slopes" your invisible assistant would instantly give you directions to the bathroom and queue up he directions to the ski-lifts. This will be cool on an individual basis, but imagine if everyone had their "invisi-Glass". While having a conversation with someone your implants would sync up, showing both of you information as it relates to your dialogue. While basically eliminating awkward pauses, it will also act as a kind of NFT (Near Field Telepathy)

philwelch 14y ago
The implant will be supported by advertising. You will see banner ads in your field of vision continuously. And as another bit of advertising, it will broadcast this out loud if you ever meet someone without an implant: "We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."
- mladenkovacevic 14y ago
  Why would you advertise to the Borg? I think they make very poor consumers.

junto 14y ago

I think you are spot on with analysis. Here is my take: Apple will 're-invent' it in ten years time and market it to us all for $1500 as a luxury product that all Apple nuts will be a 'have to have' product. Google will then release Google Glass+ two years later, which is free, but advertises products and services to you based on where you are and what you look at constantly 24-7. Wired will then publish an article that states how often men really look at women's breasts, because Google released anonymous data usage of Google Glass+ LiveStreetView (I claim the inventor's rights to this btw). Microsoft will come late to the party with Microsoft 'Goggles', which confuses everyone, because although looks good, everyone thinks must be crap, because Microsoft released it. Steve Balmer finally retires. Everyone in Microsoft breaths a sigh of relief. Nix guys are just laughing their heads off. They've had retinal implants for 5 years and record everything to their private clouds. Insurers start to demand that all people wear a Glass Recorder for insurance purposes, and before you know it, all recordings legally have to be saved by the government to prevent terrorism. Future looks rosy through those rose tinted spectacles... Count me out.

angryasian 14y ago
theres not one piece of advertising on Android devices, not credible.

codeboost 14y ago

I think Glass plus a smartwatch is the way to go. This way the Glass can be controlled from the watch using touch and voice commands.

stcredzero 14y ago

I think the only way an executive or VIP would use Google Glass in primarily social situations would be to have a personal assistant who is wearing one. If someone is in a highly technical situation, where the primary focus isn't other people, but technology or architecture, then I could see a lot of applications for augmented reality through such a device. I can envision teams of several to a dozen people in a virtual reality supporting one or two people wearing Google Glass in the field or on a business trip. The fields of vision of the Glass wearers would be shown as "screens" floating in a virtual reality, so that the support staff wouldn't get nauseated from having their vision entrained to the POV of the field Glass wearers.

LeeHunter 14y ago

Might be incredibly useful for the police, military, and anyone else who needs a heads up display for messaging and information capture. For the rest of us, no. Just no. You will never see me hanging out with anyone who has a camera pointed at my face at all times.